If God Be For Us

Today, we're examining two ways of trusting God which seem polar opposites, yet at their core they are exactly the same.

Nehemiah had stirred up the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The enemies of Isreal weren't happy to say the least. Not only did they ridicule the work, they planned a big attack.

So, how did Nehemiah respond?

"Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them." Neh. 4:9 KJV

Prayer is the first and most important step Nehemiah took. One many of us (me most of all) skip, but they didn't just stop at prayer and say, 'Okay. All good now. God's totally got this, and I can forget all about it.' Nehemiah and the people set up a watch and took weapons with them to work. They prepared for the possibility of attack.

What does that mean for me?

We ought always to pray, but if you don't answer the door when God sends opportunity knocking? Or you quibble because you asked for a sandwich and got soup. That is not on God. That's on you.

Prayer should never be used as a cop out.

There is another example I want to highlight.

In Ezra the people thought it best NOT to ask the king for an escort of soldiers to keep them safe in their very dangerous travels. Why? They'd made such a big deal about how God had sent them to Jerusalem that they thought asking for an escort would undermine their belief in God. (Ezra 8:22)

So, they prayed (first step) and then they left without the soldiers, trusting God to keep them safe. But, unlike Nehemiah, Ezra's group decided that leaving without weapons would best demonstrate to the watching world that they truly believed in God.

Ezra's group choose not to bring weapons, and Nehemiah's group worked with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. Neither were wrong.

The first step is always prayer.

For it will do you little good to start out on a dangerous journey without praying first, and outfitting yourself with weapons will do little good unless God is on your side.

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Ps. 127:1 KJV

The only reason both Nehemiah and Ezra were right was because they did what they believed God wanted them to do. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 KJV

One was supposed to trust without visible protection. The other was to use the means God had given to him to fight for his own protection. Neither response is more 'spiritual' than the other. In fact, had God wanted Ezra to have the king's soldiers and they left without them? God would not have protected Ezra. God does not honour disobedience.

So, should we make an effort or leave it all in the hands of God? The answer could be either, or a mix of both! But the only way to know is to ask God. Which is why it's so important to always pray first.

Prayer first. Action second.