Project Grace
- AfraOpoku
- May 12, 2025
- Uncategorized
- 0 Comments
It’s a different point of view.
A lot of the books in scripture are written from the perspective of another.
Adam’s story is told by Moses.
David’s story is told by Jeremiah.
Mordecai tells the story of Esther.
Not Nehemiah.
He tells his own story.
This butler turned builder, gives a scene-by-scene expose of the journey from living in exile to being a vessel for the miraculous.
This narration doesn’t appear to be one of happenings in the distant past. We get to be right there with him, as he journals his journey. There isn’t any white washing of the truth as he tells of his emotional highs and lows, a perspective most people can relate to.
Here’s a quick summary.
Nehemiah is a cupbearer1.
Though in exile, he has a position in the royal household.
Regardless, he made the personal choice to have his heart in his homeland.
Compared to the average Israelite in Babylon, Nehemiah had a cushy job. As a member of the royal household, it would have been easier to be swallowed by the comfort of his current situation.
He wasn’t. When the news got to him of the dilapidated nature of Jerusalem’s wall the trouble in his soul reflected on his countenance.
That one change triggered a chain of events that led to the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem in record time.
Miraculously, he got elevated to the position of project manager with a supply of financing and logistics that would never have been available but for the ‘gracious hand of God’ 2
Not a lot of us can comprehend that statement fully.
A lot of us are taught of a God who demands.
A God who always asks.
A God we can never satisfy.
A God whose pleasure we have to earn.
Nehemiah is a picture of unmerited and unearned favour.
He could never have paid the price for the construction of the wall, but after appealing to the King of kings, he was granted favour in the eyes of an earthly king, favour that was worth it’s weight in gold.
It helps sometimes to drop our calculators, spreadsheets and planners.
A good first step on the journey of faith is to recognize that we’re not resourced to do what God has called us to, without Him
Grace on the other hand opens doors no one – including us- sees coming.
Nehemiah had faith that God could use him to rebuild the walls of an entire city and God came through.
God used the resources of the Kingdom that had conquered Israel to build infrastructure in Israel.
Grace will do that.
God retains the ability to open doors and do things in ways that leave the world scratching their collective heads.
Look for those moments in your life.
Like Nehemiah, you’ve likely seen that gracious hand come through in more ways than one.
Watch for more expressions of his grace.
Like Nehemiah, God will leave you astounded.
1Nehemiah 1 – 2
2Nehemiah 2v 8