{"id":71,"date":"2014-01-07T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2014-01-07T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/adventurejournal\/?p=71"},"modified":"2016-11-03T13:13:10","modified_gmt":"2016-11-03T19:13:10","slug":"pursuing-greatness-nehemiah-6-1-9-15-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/pursuing-greatness-nehemiah-6-1-9-15-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuing Greatness: Nehemiah 6:1-9, 15-16"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\r\n

Nehemiah\u2019s 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\u2019s rebuilding effort, and it can be found in Nehemiah, chapter 6:<\/p>\r\n

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Focus Passage: Nehemiah 6:1-9,15-16 (NLT)<\/div>\n

1<\/sup>\u00a0Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained\u2014though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2<\/sup>\u00a0So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.<\/p>\r\n

But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3<\/sup>\u00a0so I replied by sending this message to them: \u201cI am engaged in a great work, so I can\u2019t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

4<\/sup>\u00a0Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5<\/sup>\u00a0The fifth time, Sanballat\u2019s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6<\/sup>\u00a0and this is what it said:<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThere 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<\/sup>\u00a0He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, \u2018Look! There is a king in Judah!\u2019<\/p>\r\n

\u201cYou 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.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

8<\/sup>\u00a0I replied, \u201cThere is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

9<\/sup>\u00a0They 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.<\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/p>

15<\/sup>\u00a0So on October 2 the wall was finished\u2014just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16<\/sup>\u00a0When 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.<\/p>\r\n

Read Nehemiah 6:1-9, 15-16<\/a> in context and\/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n

Nemehiah is one of the Bible\u2019s 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<\/em> task.<\/p>\r\n

What has Cam learned from Nehemiah?<\/span><\/p>\r\n