In December 446 BC Nehemiah was in his house in Susa, Persia. He was King Artaxerxes cup-bearer, tasting the king’s drink before him to make sure there was no poison in it. One day his brother came from Judah with a terrible message!
„And they said to me, The remnant left of the captivity there in the province is in great affliction and shame. And the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. ” (Nehemiah 1:3)
1760 km away from Jerusalem Nehemiah could easily have said „What a pity, they would for sure need some good leaders there. I hope God will do something and send someone there.” That would be a typical Christian prayer. „God this world is in big despair! I pray that you will send someone so that something will happen.”
What did Nehemiah do?
„And it happened when I heard these words, I sat down and wept. And I mourned for days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of Heaven. ” (Nehemiah 1:4)
But he did not only pray that God would send someone. He himself wanted to go and make sure that something would happen! After pleading his case before the king he was allowed to go. Then he prepared and in 445 he left Susa headed for Jerusalem! In Jerusalem challenges, enemies and struggles waited for him…
There could have been many reasons for him not to go. He was far away from the actual place! He could have continued his life working with King Artaxerxes, which for sure was more comfortable than his future in Jerusalem! Instead he chose to take responsibility for the situation, and be the answer to his own prayers!
We are living in a world full of needs. The news cries out to us every day that something needs to be done. Let us not just hope that God will send someone to do something, sometime! NO!
You be that someone, that will go out and do something, now!
You can do it, because God is with you!
