Category: Old Testament

Breaches In The Wall

~ Sowmya Gali

Nehemiah 2: 13, 17

So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.

Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.

Nehemiah, an exile in Babylon was serving King Artaxerxes when he heard the heartbreaking news about his beloved city, Jerusalem, lying in ruins. When he approached the king with a saddened face with a cup of wine in his hand, the king noticed it. He enquired the reason for his sadness. When Nehemiah explained how his hometown Jerusalem was lying in ruins, the king had compassion and asked what he could do to help him. Nehemiah, after praying to God, boldly asked the king to send him back to his homeland. He requested letters of free passage and supply of materials for the temple to various governors of the provinces between Babylon and Jerusalem, so he could rebuild the temple and the city. With God’s favor on his side, Nehemiah was soon on his way back to the Holy land of his fathers.

After reaching Jerusalem, Nehemiah inspected the city, the walls and the temple during the night. He observed how the gates were burned down, walls were broken down and the city was in ruins. Seeing the desolation with his own eyes, Nehemiah resolved to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He gathered together a remnant that was left behind by King Nebuchadnezzar. He inspired them by informing that God’s favorable hand was with him. The officials who were overseeing the remnant in Judah weren’t very happy about the new development and they confronted Nehemiah. However, with boldness, he declared that God was on his side and He will give him success (Nehemiah 2: 20)

Therefore, Nehemiah and the men who were with him started closing the breaches in the wall and hanging up the gates. One by one, each breach in the wall was being closed and each gate being repaired and hung up. The Samaritans and the Ammonites in the region were mocking Nehemiah and company (Nehemiah 4: 1-4). Despite the opposition, Nehemiah and the men had a mind to work and finish the wall (Nehemiah 4: 6). Soon enough, the wall has been joined together and the Israelites were able to build the wall up to half of its original height.

Seeing the progress, Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and Ashdodites conspired to fight against Nehemiah and company (Nehemiah 4: 7). With such opposition against them, Nehemiah cried out to the Lord for help. They set up guard day and night to protect themselves and the wall. The enemies of Israel also thought of infiltrating the builders, so they could kill them and disrupt the building of the wall. Knowing their plans, Nehemiah encouraged the workers and guards that God is on their side and they have every right to fight for the land as well as their families.

Now armed with a sword in one hand, and a tool in the other, they continued to rebuild the wall. During day time they labored to build the wall and during night, they stood guard. In 52 days, the wall was rebuilt, all the breaches in the wall closed and all the gates were hung.

Nehemiah 6: 15-16

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

United States of America, a nation built on the solid foundation of Judeo-Christian principles, and with a solid wall called Constitution had been a beacon of light and hope to the rest of the world. People from all over the world throng to this land where there is freedom, exercise God-given rights, pursue happiness and enterprise. Lately, however, the foundation has been shaken, the wall has been breached with enslaving ideologies, and the freedom to practice our faith, pursue happiness, and exercise our rights has been threatened. The Judeo-Christian foundation is being mocked and thrown out. The Constitution wall has been breached with ridiculous lies, idolatry, greed, pride and power-grab. We have strayed too far from the truth to the point where this truth has been portrayed as a lie. We have come to a point where we started declaring good as evil and evil as good.

The Lord Almighty, in His mercy and grace towards this blessed land, preserved a remnant of faithful believers to return to the ancient path, to once again solidify our foundation and close the breaches in the wall. It is about time that we start with ourselves first: confess our sins and return to our first love. Let us rebuild our families on the solid Rock of Christ, and rebuild the wall of sound moral and ethical values firstly around our families, our communities, our towns and cities and lastly, our country.  If the breaches in the wall aren’t closed, then the enemy will lose no time to sneak in and destroy us from within. Just like in the days of Nehemiah, the enemy will try its best to demoralize, doubt, and finally infiltrate so we could implode from within. If the foundation is secure and the breaches in the wall closed, there will be no room for the evil one to enter. God has equipped us with the Word. Let us take up the Word as a sword in one hand and with the skills God gave us in the other, let us rebuild the wall once again. Knowing and seeing the progress we make; the enemy has to give up and flee. Blessed is the nation, whose God is the Lord!

The Patient Man

~ Sowmya Gali

That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” Genesis 26: 24

Wedged between two strong characters of Abraham and Jacob (Israel), is the brief story of Isaac. Not much is written about him, about his accomplishments or even his faith unlike his father Abraham or son Jacob. He was the promised son. His marriage to Rebekah and how he was swindled of blessing by his own son are the most prominent stories which are recanted several times. However, there is one small story which highlights the faith and patience of this simple man.

Isaac has camped in the country of Philistines, where Abimelech was the king. Abimelech just learned that the beautiful lady who accompanied Isaac was not his sister but his wife. Abimelech soon orders the people of his country that if anyone dares to touch or harm Isaac and his wife will be put to death instantaneously (v 11). Feeling secured, Isaac soon settles in the land, plants crops and reaps hundredfold within the year, because God blessed him (v 12). He became a rich man in wealth and cattle that the envious Philistine neighbors plugged the wells that Abraham dug when he visited the land several years before. They drove Isaac away claiming he was becoming too powerful for them (v 16).

Isaac, a man of gentle spirit, didn’t fight instead, packed up his belongings and moved to a different place in the Valley of Gerar (v 17). He reopened the wells that Abraham dug and the hate-mongering Philistines closed soon after Abraham’s death. He named the wells with the same names as his father had given them. Soon after, Isaac’s servants dug a well in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water. During the time, when water was as precious as gold, any man who digs a well, claims the land surrounding the well. However, the Philistines picked up a quarrel with Isaac and his herdsmen. Isaac had to abandon and dug another well. The Philistines quarreled over that one as well. Isaac was finally able to dig a well, which he aptly named ‘Rehoboth’ translated as ‘Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land’. That very night, the Lord appeared to him and gave him the promise that He will bless and increase his number of descendants. Isaac lost no time and built his first altar to God there and called on the name of the Lord. He pitched his tent and his servants dug another well there (v 25). In all this, Isaac didn’t lose his temper or grew impatient.

Shortly after he settled in the land, Abimelech with his adviser and commander paid him a visit. Unperturbed, Isaac questions Abimelech of his unexpected visit despite the hostility. Abimelech, who clearly saw how the Lord blessed Isaac, wanted to make a peace treaty with Isaac (v 28). Isaac lost no time and turned the event into a celebratory occasion. He organized a feast for his enemies (v 30). He treated them with respect, made peace with them and sent them on their way after the feast. When God is the integral part of our lives, we should take every opportunity to make peace with our enemies or anyone who is hostile towards us. We must reach out to them with God’s love. That is how we can attract people towards us as well as God. Isaac, a man of peace never resorted to confrontation or fought for his rights. Instead he compromised and sought peace. Isaac’s peace-making story is a great lesson for us to seek opportunities to remain at peace with people who are hostile. We should ask God to give us wisdom when to stand down and when to stand up and fight.

Abimelech and the Philistines, who clearly saw Divine Providence in Isaac’s life, left them in peace. That very day, Isaac’s servants informed him of another well of water which they dug up (v 32). Isaac’s patience paid off at the end. Despite facing opposition, he rested in God’s promise of protection and provision. God blessed Isaac in such a way that he had enjoyed peace all his hundred and eighty years of his life.