(July 23, 2022) Hope Flinchbaugh shares some more insights about Nehemiah’s wall building journey, challenging us to know that God has a plan for us…

Economists predict that our world may be headed for monetary collapse. As Christians called by God to build or finance a ministry in this decade, we’ve all certainly had to, or will have to, ask God for His provision. But in doing so, we must remember that if we don’t approach God with faith, it is impossible to please Him!

The writer of Hebrews made this clear, pointing out the reward of believing faith:  ‘… without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him’ (Hebrews 11:6NASB).

Boldly believing
We have faith for our eternal salvation in heaven, but do we have faith for provision here on the earth? And let’s include finances. Finances? Yes… finance is needed to fulfil many a ministry and such could be very tight during this particular decade! Let’s learn from Nehemiah about boldly asking for provisions, and God ensuring such are arranged as His reward for our believing in faith.

As were all of his captured countrymen, Nehemiah was a slave in a nation that was not theirs. But being cupbearer to the king – a special, honoured position – Nehemiah would have had his daily needs well provided for. However, he did not have a stash of wealth, investments, or a savings account when he’d been called by God to return to Jerusalem to build the wall as we mentioned in previous episodes of this series.

Do you know God actually looks for people with empty hands? He likes to choose those of us with nothing to build His dreams!

Empty hands
Nehemiah needed permission to leave the king’s palace as well as provisions to build the walls of Jerusalem. He shot up a prayer to heaven, before answering the king’s question about his plans. Let’s look at the Nehemiah 2:1-9 record of what ensued…

‘In the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.

‘Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”

‘So I became dreadfully afraid,and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”

‘Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

‘I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favour before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?”

‘So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time. And I said to the king, “If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.”

‘And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me. Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.’

Favour of God
Rebuilding the protective wall around Jerusalem and the city itself was Nehemiah’s heavenly commission and he was so desirous to see his calling fulfilled. But he realised that he would need provisions such as timber, letters of authority and passes.

And he dared to ask favour from that earthly king, Artaxerxes. The king, in agreeing with his cupbearer unwittingly became a vital ‘flowing through’ part of the God’s plan for Nehemiah and for His people way down in damaged Jerusalem.

Nehemiah knew why he gained so much favour from this pagan king – the good hand of his God was on him because he moved in believing faith!

If it were today, we’d probably have thought, ‘Well, he’s no Moses, no Charlton Heston… or some famous Christian movie superstar.’ And Nehemiah would recognise that and quickly agree! But in his time he was an ambassador for the king of heaven, commissioned to achieve. With the Lord backing him – granting His favour because of his faith, Nehemiah would be moving south with permission, passes and provision to do the work of heaven in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was ‘in his element!’ He had spent enough time in thought and prayer, and probably counsel, too to realise he needed certain things from the realm of this natural earth to accomplish such a great job.

What about you?
Chances are you too will need certain equipment for your commissioning, whatever your ‘calling to build’ for God is, whatever ‘wall’ the task centres on, such as:

1. Permission (from the ‘king’… boss or authorities) to build/rebuild.

2. Passes (special letters… like today’s passports and visas) permission or access to new places.

3. Provision (Promises of timber and such ie materials, resources) to rebuild ‘the gates the wall.’

After prayer, and at the right moment, Nehemiah dared ask the king to send him to rebuild the city of his fathers. Artaxerxes then asked him for a timeframe as to how long it would take to do this rebuilding and Nehemiah gave him a definite time.

Now, this is interesting because, in all honesty, what sort of time frame would you give a king who wanted to know how long it would take to rebuild broken down walls that you’ve never seen? It’s not like Nehemiah could google a picture of modern-day Jerusalem and assess the damage! But he was sharp and ready for the king’s questions because he had spent time in prayer – therefore he could give King Artaxerxes a definite time.

But, never wavering, he was sharp and ready for the king’s questions because he had spent time in prayer – therefore he could give the king a definite time.

Just remember – if we were to waver during such times of decision-making, we could loose the moment of opportunity and our enemy, the devil, could destroy what good has been built or is being built.

Leaps of faith
I want to pause here for those who function from the left brain of their body.

I’ve noticed that God usually puts couples together where one is a leaper and one is a calculator! God gave us both sides of our brains and uses both sides. But…

• An impulsive jump does not promise success, nor does a calculated risk does!

I want to challenge all of us, leapers and calculators, to know that it’s prayers, fastings, and weeping during waiting that really prepare us for the jump. We must lean on the Lord, not our own personality, ability, or mathematics.

Be bold
Now, Nehemiah did pray to prepare. And, as I mentioned above, when the king asked questions, Nehemiah was very bold to ask for permission, passes, and even provision for the work ahead.

If someone approached you and offered you a blank check to build the dream God’s given you, what would you say? Let me be daring and ask what could be a touchy question… If one of your needs to fulfill God’s calling is finance in this uncertain decade, have you faith for finances? And what would you request?

Remember Paul’s assurance in Philippians 4:19NLT, ‘And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.’

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Hope Flinchbaugh, editor-in-chief of Hope Editors, a special team helping publishers and authors, has also written three historical fiction novels and two nonfiction books.

Hope’s love for children is evident in her delightful Baby Babbles series… available from Amazon Author Page or International Orders Here and her I Come to the Garden Alone is an inspiring daily devotions booklet. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
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