Trust God and Work Hard

Read Nehemiah 3-4.

Teamwork makes the dream work.  That is demonstrated in chapter 3.  The tasks were many but with organized teams, each taking a section of the wall, the work was completed in an unusually short time.  With the completion of the wall and control of the gates, the Jews could live in the city with some semblance of peace and security.

However, whenever someone is cheering, inevitably someone is jeering.  Or, as one leadership principle states, "Whenever you make a decision, expect opposition."

The Samaritans, led by Sanballat, and Tobiah the Ammonite, the Arabs, and the Ashdodites laughed, mocked, ridiculed, threatened and tried everything they could discourage the people from rebuilding the wall.  It would mean the end of their taking advantage of the Jews.

Nehemiah's response was not in kind, but instead he prayed.  In his prayer, he acknowledged that the root of the ridicule was opposition to God Himself.  Next, he organized around-the-clock, armed security by family groups to protect their own. The leaders did not even take time to change their clothes.

It is an excellent picture of complete trust in God to do what they could not control, while doing everything humanly possible to do what they could control.