Nehemiah 2: The Planning Process
ONCE DWIGHT L. Moody was sailing on an ocean vessel and a fire broke out. One of this traveling companions said, "Don't you think we should go and pray, Brother Moody?" Moody replied, "You can go and pray, brother, but I am going to man the water buckets. There is a time to pray and a time to put the fire out!" We tend to build a dichotomy between praying and doing. Usually what trips us up in the Christian life is not finding the balance between dependency on God and action on our part. Surely both must be important in God's eyes! In this chapter Nehemiah shows evidence of careful planning on both fronts.
Warming Up to God
What fears do you have that keep you from taking risks with your faith? Tell your Father about them—and let him show you how to overcome them with his strength.
Read Nehemiah 2. »
Discovering the Word
- How did Nehemiah give evidence of having a well-thought-through plan in verses 1-9?
- What is the difference between the praying Nehemiah does in this chapter and what he did in chapter 1?
- What evidences of thoroughness do you find in verses 11-16?
- Why do you think Nehemiah appears so confident in verses 17-20?
- From this chapter, what makes it reasonable for Nehemiah to be so hard-line with Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem (vv. 18-20)?
Applying the Word
- When you do a "great work for God," do you expect opposition? Explain.
- Do you feel it is okay to say the "gracious hand of my God [is] upon me" (v. 18) regarding the work that you are doing? Explain why or why not.
Responding in Prayer
Consider one risk or act of faith you need to take this week and ask the Lord to guide you through this test of your obedience.
For Further Study
The Message of Nehemiah by Raymond Brown