01/06/2022 - HIDDEN TREASURES

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The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel. Nehemiah 1:1

We can accept that Nehemiah, the restorer of the walls of Jerusalem, is one of God’s treasures to be found, for he possessed a calling to help the holy people. Indeed, all the saved are treasures of the Most High to bless the suffering and the lost. The Church’s inattention to the Go is an evil act for which it will be held accountable (Ezekiel 3:18).

With the occupation of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, the people were taken captive. It may be that Nehemiah rebelled against God for not having kept him from being taken captive. However, when he saw how the Lord opened the doors for him to do something great for his own, he certainly praised God. The Word says:  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). God knows everything!

It was years of shame for an Israelite to be in a strange land as a servant, but then, when he saw God’s hand reaching out to him and enabling him to be used, it no longer mattered why it had happened that way. Now, Israel was brought into bondage by the sins of the rulers of Judah, who did not want to listen to the prophets sent by the Lord, like Jeremiah, who predicted the exact time of the oppression – 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10)!

Nehemiah became cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, and by a succession of events, his time came. After all, God was helping him. He succeeded in being who the Lord had planned for him to be. Whoever turns away from faith in trials despises the Word and will not be seen by the Most High to fulfill the mission He has destined for him (James 1:12). Nehemiah was chosen to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, making it possible for the captive Israelites to return.

We must never rebel against God’s plan, which sometimes includes some discomfort (Jeremiah 12:5). He knows what is good and useful for His Kingdom and what task each one needs to perform in His redemption plan, written before He created the world. Always be holy, without indulging in any kind of sin; otherwise, there will be obstacles in the way for the Lord to use you. The work is almost complete, so persevere!

Seeing that God was leading him, Nehemiah felt that he should write about it; he probably didn’t know that his accounts would become part of the Holy Scriptures. What we do for someone to be saved or to stand firm in the faith will give us eternal reward. David was rewarded for overcoming Goliath. Jesus said: To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21). Be vigilant!

Resist every kind of temptation; then you will continue to be a servant of the Almighty. Then, at the appointed time, you will discover that you came into the world for a most wonderful purpose. God loved you when He planned your coming into the light. Your parents and those who helped you will also receive something very valuable at Christ’s return, which will accompany you all for eternity. God is faithful! Pray!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares