The Lord Often Does Not Do It All - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Nehemiah 1:3,

"Those who survived the exile and are back in the province [Judah] are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."

This is the report given Nehemiah, the Jewish cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, when he asked his brother, Hanani, how the returnees to Jerusalem were doing, as well as the city itself. Hanani had just returned from Judah.

This report caused a great consternation to Nehemiah. In verse four, we read he sat down and wept, and for "some days" mourned, fasted and prayed. The bulk of chapter one is his prayer to the Lord. In it he confessed the sins of the nation, his family's and his own. He also reminded the Lord that he had told Moses that if Israel were to be unfaithful, he would scatter them among the nations, but if they returned to the Lord and obeyed his commands, he would gather them back to their homeland, the land the Lord had given them, verses 8-9. All this had happened and now Nehemiah was asking the Lord for help following the report.

In Ezra 1:1 we read that it was the Lord himself who had "moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia" to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Since it was the Lord himself who made it possible for the Jews to return to Jerusalem, why were they fairing so poorly? Why were they in "great trouble and disgrace"? Why hadn't the Lord "greased the skids" for the returning Jews and paved the way for easy success?

Something I have noticed about the Lord as I have read Israel's history: the Lord certainly does his part to pursue his agenda, and that he does make things happen. However, when it comes to utilizing his people, he doesn't do it all himself.

For those who wish to serve the Lord, the Lord provides them room to do just that. The Lord doesn't "do it all" on many occasions, but allows his people the satisfaction of accomplishing those good things for him. He provides opportunity for a sense of purpose, the expression of industry, and a sense of satisfaction for a job well done for the Lord. Additionally, the Lord does respond when those who are seeking to serve him call out for help. I believe it is precisely that opportunity for a call for help that the Lord often refrains from "doing it all" on his own. He wants to teach us to rely on him, and until we are backed in a corner, needing his help when we are serving him, we may miss out on valuable lessons if the Lord had just done everything needed up front.

Just a few thoughts this morning...

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.