God’s answer to Nehemiah’s prayer:
Nehemiah had spent days (1:4) weeping, mourning, fasting,
and praying. From the passage we will read this morning, he also spent some of
that time planning. As we read Chapter 2, look for evidence that Nehemiah had a
plan together before he ever had an opportunity to speak to the King.
Read Nehemiah 2:1-8
Is there any evidence
that Nehemiah had already thought through what he might need prior to his
audience with the King? Letters, Timber.
Nehemiah prayed for success. God answered his prayer and
granted him success before the King. What
do you suppose might have happened if Nehemiah had prayed that God would
miraculously restore the wall without any human hands touching it, so that God
would receive all the glory?
READ Nehemiah 2:11-16
In V12 Nehemiah says that God was putting into his mind what
he should do for Jerusalem. How can you
tell if something that comes to your mind is from God or from somewhere else? Scripture,
wise council, circumstances.
Is there a way to know
how much of a given task I should do with my hands and how much of it I should
wait for God to do through whatever means He chooses?
Nehemiah prayed to God but he also listened. When God spoke,
Nehemiah acted. This passage challenges me to be sure that God is with me, but
to do my part in the work as well.
