Contemplative Bible Reading

Nehemiah 6:16 (New Living Translation)

When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.

God’s people had finished rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. This task—given the puny resources applied to it—was not possible. The enemies of God’s people realized that this task had been completed with the help of God the Creator.

People realize the work of God; people realize the hand of God in human affairs. People may not proclaim what they know as that would make their entire life a lie, but they realize what they see.

And when deniers see what they cannot deny, they are frightened and humiliated.

And when we believers see fright and humiliation in deniers, how do we react? Smugness? Victory? Compassion? We know persecution and the accompanying fear and humiliation. Let us learn from ourselves and extend a hand of fellowship to fellow sinners. Easier said that done, and that is why I write…please God, help me in my unbelief.