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Stones in the way



          
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Around 600BC, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Judah and people were taken as captives to Babylon. The city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed into a heap of stones. Around 500 BC, a leader by name Zerubbabel went to rebuild with about 50,000 Israelites but got discouraged and quit. Later, Haggai and Zechariah tried and could not finish. Around 400 BC, the Persians took over Babylon and Nehemiah was chosen as a cupbearer to the King and later a governor (Nehemiah 1:11). His life in a foreign land was going well. When he heard about the condition of Jerusalem, he sat down and wept; he fasted and prayed. Then gathered his leaders and said, "come, let us rebuild Jerusalem so that we will no longer be in disgrace".

When news of shame and disgrace come upon us, as much as we should fast and pray we must rise up and regroup. We can look at the burned stones and be 'content with the way things are' or we can decide to use the stones to build monuments of success. The task was not easy for Nehemiah and the people. They were faced with enemies who ridiculed them, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of burned rubbles? Even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones" (Chapter 4). We might look at life and see many stones that have caused us great hurt and sadness. We have a choice to let God use them to build great foundations of joyful lives that can give lasting hope. Nehemiah was able to bring the stones back to life from the heap of burned rubbles.

These stones of hate, envy and despair hurt the ones who spread them more than others. In Genesis, we learn that Joseph faced difficult stones in life from his own brothers. Ultimately, his faith and integrity raised him to be the second in line to the Pharao. His brothers had to go to him for help in time of famine. His ultimate triumph is echoed in the words, “you meant evil, and God meant it for good”. The things that could destroy you can become building blocks on the journey of faith as you look for the hand of God in all circumstances.

The people with Nehemiah faced the stones of despair and exhaustion. The people said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” When times are difficult, it seems like for ever. Giving our best in any effort will beat the stones of exhaustion and weariness. “The house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent” (1 Chronicles 22:5). In such times, staying in the long run is extremely important. It is when things seem worse that you must not quit.

Stones in our paths are inevitable. Our Father in heaven can take the stones in our lives and build wonderful foundations for us to stand on. He will tear down walls of stone that don't need to be up and re-use the stones to firm up existing foundations. Paul wrote, Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

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