We have heard it said many times; “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” This is an old African proverb means that huge goals can feel overwhelming, but they can be achieved one step at a time. Real progress comes from focusing on what we can do right now in front of us. The proverb teaches us to begin where we are, choose one small action today, and let it build our momentum going forward. This proverb might seem to be all on us as individuals but it also means that if each one does their part the huge goal seems “eatable” or doable—without “biting off more than we can choose!”
Jesus said; “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” Luke 14:28-30 Jesus taught about planning and counting the cost before undertaking a major project, too. He used the building a tower as an example in Luke 14, to illustrate the necessity of fully committing to discipleship, understanding that following Him requires significant sacrifice, like forsaking possessions and even family, to ensure one can finish the journey of faith. Being a disciple is an individual decision of commitment, but Jesus also knows we will need the help of His Holy Spirit along with the help of other committed followers on our journey as we seek to do His pleasing and perfect will.
When we first believe, freely accepting Jesus as Savior; we excitedly tell Jesus that we want to take up our cross and follow Him as Lord. Jesus wants us to know exactly what we are getting into so we are not surprised by His and our enemy whose goal is to distract and deceive us on the journey. Jesus gives all new believers a huge dose of reality so we have no false “pie in the sky” expectations, no illusions of a trouble less life, and no bargains.
Jesus uses another building analogy later to describe how we are unique stones, set in a perfect place, for the building His church in which HE is the foundation! (Matthew 16) Jesus also said we will be like soldiers, always battling His Enemy and ours in our daily walk with God but to relax, He has Overcome and we will, too. This passage in Luke closes with Jesus teaching that we are to be fresh salt for flavoring the world with Who He is to the world and to us. For God so loved the world that He sent His Son to save us. Our work is to go and teach others this Good News. (John 3:16; Matthew 28:20)
Jesus is looking for quality and flexibility as we become His masterpieces of God’s work.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
Think about it: Long before the walls of Jerusalem crumbled and fell; God had a plan to rebuild and restore the Wall. What a huge undertaking, not to worry, God will call Nehemiah, the Cupbearer to go to Jerusalem. God will provide the plan to eat this elephant of a project by each group building the section close to their own community. God’s plan is genius and always the best!
Nehemiah 3
Builders of the Wall
Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.
3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
6 The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.
13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.
14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.
15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.
17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. 18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.
22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. 23 Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. 24 Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, 25 and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. 31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; 32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Notice how many times the words “next to” are used—too many to count! Why is that? Because all committed wall builders—men, women, and children—will be needed to complete the work God gave them to do. And don’t miss this—God uses this project to rebuild and restore the faith of His people! He’s still doing it today! God’s projects always have purpose!
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:11-16
God knows what He is doing! Trust Him!
There’s more to come! God’s story of restoration is going well, at the moment. What will happen when the enemy of opposition hovers over them while doing the work? Who will remain faithful? Who will grow tired and weary and give up? Nehemiah their committed leader prays often, asking God for His guidance. Godly leaders pray, listen and obey. Godly leaders encourage people in the work.
Last bites to chew on…
Who are “next to” in the work God has given us to do?
Who helps us stay focused and on task?
Who are we in the work?
Lord,
There is so much to think about and take to heart in your story through Nehemiah and your people. What you say is still true—we need you every hour and you are with us always to provide exactly what we need when we need it. I believe. I’m yours and I’m listening. Make your desires be my desires in all the details of this life as we walk together.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 