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the hand of God


I am currently preaching through the book of Nehemiah and a series titled “reBuilding”.  We are talking about how Nehemiah led the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the city in recored time, and we are spending some time talking about how we must rebuild due to the trauma and trouble that Covid has brought our way.


Last Sunday was from Nehemiah chapter 2 about his love for God and the people as he walked out his compassion and God’s call on his life.  Nehemiah was an incredible guy.


One of the reasons that he was a blessing and incredible and able to do what he did was a simple thing.  Watch or listen to these two verses that call out that reason.


Nehemiah 2:8  NLT

And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.


The king was kind and very responsive to what Nehemiah shared because God’s hand was on Nehemiah.


Nehemiah 2:18  NLT

Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.  They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.


The people responded to Nehemiah in a positive way, even excited to do something to rebuild their city, because God’s hand was on Nehemiah.


What significance does the hand of God have on Nehemiah and on this story?


What significance does the hand of God have on our lives?


There is huge significance on Nehemiah’s confession that God’s hand was on his life.  It was his calling from God to help the people after he learned this in his hearing the problem and then spending a lot of time seeking God.  Then God gave him what was needed from the king as well as the people being ready to rebuild as Nehemiah led.


How is God’s hand on us?  We have to spend time with God for this to be a reality.  We know or you can tell when someone has spent time with God.  There is something about them.  They seem blessed or something.


May we seek the hand of God and know it when we or others have God’s hand on our lives.  I long for and am grateful for the hand of God on my life, on my family and on the church we are a part of.

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