So many of us have experienced some kind of crisis that has brought a level of destruction in our lives and all that seems to be left is a pile of rubble. We have all looked at the pictures on TV from the earthquake that hit Haiti and those pictures linger in our minds. Questions arise: Where do they begin to re-build? Is it even possible? It seems that these same questions arise in us as we go through a personal crisis: Where do we start? How do we rebuild? But we need to look at our resource; our lives are in Jesus Christ who has all that we need. I believe the Lord is bringing us all into a season of recovery, but it will require us to participate with Him in this journey to REBUILD and FIGHT. You may say, “yes I understand why we would rebuild but why fight?” Let’s look at a similar story in the bible, about the Israelites and a time when they went through a season of recovery:
Nehemiah 4:1-3(MSG)
1-2When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he exploded in anger, vilifying the Jews. In the company of his Samaritan cronies and military he let loose: “What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can get everything back to normal overnight? Make building stones out of make-believe?” 3 At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, “That’s right! What do they think they’re building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.”
With the initiative to rebuild, there always seems to be an initiative to oppose. Think about when one is sick. Something has brought destruction to the body, and not only does the body need to recover from that destruction, by rebuilding the body, it needs to fight so as not to allow further destruction, now and in the future. Hence we need focus on rebuilding, and on being vigilant and warding off those things that will come to discourage us from rebuilding.
Nehemiah 4:6-3(MSG)
6 We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height because the people had a heart for the work. 7-9 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem were going so well-that the breaks in the wall were being fixed-they were absolutely furious. They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could. We countered with prayer to our God and set a round-the-clock guard against them. 10 But soon word was going around in Judah, The builders are pooped, the rubbish piles up; We’re in over our heads, we can’t build this wall.
The Israelites, during their time of recovery, kept on going regardless of the opposition they faced, finding their source of strength in God as the prayed. We have to ward off discouragement when we feel like we are being worn down, when we don’t see the results we are looking for, and when we are just tired. We have to purpose in our hearts that we will keep going to the end. Sometimes it will require us taking extra steps to keep going.
Nehemiah 4:13 -20
13-14 So I stationed armed guards at the most vulnerable places of the wall and assigned people by families with their swords, lances, and bows. After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: “Don’t be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” 15-18 Our enemies learned that we knew all about their plan and that God had frustrated it. And we went back to the wall and went to work. From then on half of my young men worked while the other half stood guard with lances, shields, bows, and mail armor. Military officers served as backup for everyone in Judah who was at work rebuilding the wall. The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other. Each of the builders had a sword strapped to his side as he worked. I kept the trumpeter at my side to sound the alert. 19-20 Then I spoke to the nobles and officials and everyone else: “There’s a lot of work going on and we are spread out all along the wall, separated from each other. When you hear the trumpet call, join us there; our God will fight for us.”
So keep in mind that we are not just rebuilding for ourselves but for those around us and for those generations to come. Therefore, let us place ourselves in the right position, in the place where we have a building tool in one hand, such as Godly wisdom and counsel, obedience, follow through, or whatever practical tools are required in your particular situation. And on the other hand let us not forget to have the correct fighting equipment, such as prayer and praise-these are the most powerful fighting tools-where we say “God fight for us!”