If there is anyone in the Bible who had single-minded focus to complete a mission aside from Jesus, Nehemiah is someone who might top the list of people we think of. Not only is he one of the Biblical heroes of leadership, he is also a great example for how to press forward in spite of criticism and opposition.
Nehemiah’s single-minded goal at this stage of his life, and the task he is remembered throughout history for, is leading the people of Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was torn down when the people were exiled (think the story of Daniel), and Nehemiah is the leader responsible for leading the rebuilding effort several hundred years later. Our adventure Journal passage focuses on the last days of the Nehemiah’s rebuilding effort, and it can be found in Nehemiah, chapter 6:
1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.
But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said:
“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’
“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”
9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.
Read Nehemiah 6:1-9, 15-16 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
Nemehiah is one of the Bible’s great heroes of leadership. It seems that he single-handedly rallied the people of Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he kept them motivated to continue the work, and he faced much stronger opposition than we face with our goals. Nehemiah had a vision, he was working for something greater than himself, and he was focused entirely on one task.
What has Cam learned from Nehemiah?
- Whenever you are doing something great, you will be tempted to not start, or to stop before it is completed. Great things are intimidating, but intimidating great things can lead to the greatest feelings of success and accomplishment.
- Whenever you are doing something great, you will be tempted to distract your focus. Distractions derail momentum, and therefore, they are the enemy of productivity. When doing something great, you want to succeed, so minimize if not completely eliminate distractions.
- Whenever you are doing something great, you will face opposition. Some of the opposition may even come from people you thought you could count on.
The great thing I am pressing forward in 2014 (as I have for the past few years) is developing ReflectiveBibleStudy.com. For 2014 specifically, I have on my list regular Adventure Journal updates (both written and audio), re-recording the teaching videos (they’re good now, but I know they can be better), and a number of improvements to the infrastructure of the website itself.
I wish I could be as single-minded as Nehemiah, but this project is happening while I have a family, and a full-time job. This first written Adventure Journal entry is an important key step, because it breaks through the temptation to not start. It is also an important step, because once I’ve started a task, I really like seeing it through to completion.
Here’s my promise to you: Each week I will deliver one, if not two, written journal entries and one audio journal entry. This is part of my 2014 goals, because I want to help you learn new, practical, insights and tools that will help you move forward in your “adventure” with God. On the audio journal entries, and on some of the written entries, my lovely wife Suzie will join in on the conversation.
With that said, we both would love it if you joined the discussion below, sharing your thoughts on this passage and answering the following question: “What ‘great work’ will you push forward throughout 2014?”