Avoiding Fatalism

I love the concurrent depiction of human responsibility and divine sovereignty in Nehemiah. The Jews exercised a balance between faith and readiness. Though armed, vigilant, and prepared, Nehemiah and the people consistently petitioned God and attributed their victories and construction success to His sovereign protection and provision. They not only prayed, but also "set a guard as a protection against them day and night." [Neh. 4:6]. Nehemiah recounts, "When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail." [Neh. 4:15-16]. When the wall is finished, Nehemiah gives God the glory -- and not just Nehemiah, but also the surrounding nations: "So the wall was finished . . . when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived this work had been accomplished with the help of our God." [Neh. 6:15-16].

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