Fill in the Gaps of our Relationships
By: Patty Nicholas-Boyte
Nehemiah 4:6-9 (NASB)
“So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.”
At first, it was more important to build the wall and close the gaps then to work on the height. With breaches closed and walls joined together, men who were used to passing through Jerusalem for nefarious purposes no longer had free access.
When I see words such as fitly joined, come together, or gaps closed, I am reminded of relationships as well as the task that needed to be completed. I believe that in the middle of the necessary safety project, God was also rebuilding His people.
The Israelites had been in exile for over seventy years, and even when they had returned to a homeland many had never even seen, they were lost. They existed in a broken down city in broken homes for several years before Nehemiah had the plan to repair the city.
The Jewish people were as scattered, gap filled and broken as the walls around their beloved Jerusalem. God’s plan, carried out by Nehemiah was to bring healing to His children at the same time as they were taking care of the safety issue. God closed the gaps in relationships as the holes in the walls came together and He re-built broken families as bricks were raised. Some of you may say there is a relationship of yours that is broken beyond repair, however, I know that if God could use the raising of the walls of Jerusalem in record time, as well as repair the spirit and relationships of His chosen people, then what you are going through is not too hard for God.
Of course, whenever we fulfill God’s plan, the enemy is angry. In verse 8 we are told how the enemies of God’s people conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and cause a disturbance. We cannot be surprised at hardship and opposition when we are in God’s will, in fact, I believe this is one way we know we are on the right course.
In verse 9, the people prayed to God, and then they set up a guard against enemy day and night. We need to be just as vigilant. We need to stay in prayer and keep a guard over our family, and ourselves for our enemy is just as real as the flesh and blood that came against the Jewish people during Nehemiah’s time.
Ephesians 6:12 (NASB) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
What can we learn from Nehemiah?
- To God, broken relationships are as important as broken walls.
- Working together, in God’s will can build bonds.
- When we work for God, expect opposition.
- Be on vigilant in prayer, and guard each other as you work as unto the Lord.
- Our enemy is not necessarily flesh and blood.
In verse 9 Nehemiah said that they prayed to their God. Prayer was the first action he took when it came to taking on the enemy. He knew the first rule of spiritual warfare. Do not attempt to enter into a battle without serious prayer.
What questions can we ask ourselves that can affect change?
- Are there relationships in your life that need repair?
- Is there a relationship you feel is too broken for God to fix? Pray and watch Him work.
- Are you like God’s people in Nehemiah’s time, scattered and lost? Will you allow God’s plan to bring healing as He works on other issues at the same time?
- How can we set a guard up around each other as we battle together in prayer?
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