Harvest of Gold (31 page)

Nehemiah was on a first-name basis with most of the workers and even knew their servants and wives. He carried dried nuts and dates for their children in his pockets and took their babies in his arms while he chatted with them as he inspected the wall. Not a day went by that Nehemiah did not visit some portion of the construction site.

Gone were his silk robes and golden jewels. Gone were his heeled shoes and curled hair. He was one of the people. The requirements of the Persian court already seemed far away and insignificant.

While making his regular circuit, Nehemiah breathed in the smell of dust, old stones, and fresh mortar. Construction smells. Against all reason, he had come to love them—he, who was accustomed to the scents, of rose water, spring blossoms, and the spices of Arabia.

He came upon the Broad Wall where Uzziel the goldsmith and Hananiah, a manufacturer of perfumes, had charge of the repairs. This was by far the widest section of the wall around Jerusalem. The original had been built in the days of King Hezekiah. Its repair presented many difficulties due to its extra width.

Nehemiah shook his head. “You have done well. Even though your section is a good deal wider than the rest, you have managed to come up halfway, same as the others. You’d have to lay down five of me, head to toe, in order to match the width of this wall.”

The goldsmith beat his sleeve with a dirty hand. A cloud of dust rose up in the air. His hair stood in tangled knots, and not a single piece of jewelry adorned him. He looked like he had not bathed in days. He had been too busy working, setting an example for his servants, Nehemiah knew. The delicate fingers that once purified silver and shaped gold were covered in calluses now.

“The people have been working with their whole hearts. And this enthusiasm is largely due to you, my lord Nehemiah. You have inspired us to persist and not give up. You show up in person every day. I’ve seen you pick up stones with your own hand, and I thought, if the governor of Judah can do this, then a goldsmith has no excuse. So here we are. Filthy but proud.”

Nehemiah placed a hand on Uzziel’s shoulder. “One day, people around the world will remember you for this accomplishment, my friend.”

He was glad he had been able to enjoy that moment of celebration, for he had little peace from that moment. Sanballat, Tobiah, and their influential friends discovered how well the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls was proceeding. This success infuriated them. Their enemies were more intent than ever to smash down their work and destroy them before they could taste further success.

In his office that night Nehemiah received the disturbing report that Sanballat, along with his friends the Ammonites and Ashdodites as well as a few other local tribes, intended to attack Jerusalem. It was the worst onslaught against them yet.

Nehemiah winced when he heard the news. He didn’t feel fresh and strong. He didn’t feel up to such a huge challenge. He was already stretched thin.

For Nehemiah, this journey had started months before. He had begun by fasting and praying and grieving for his people. For months he had carried on the delicate responsibilities of his regular work as the king’s cupbearer while also carrying the burden of the wreck Judah had become. Immediately following those months, he had taken on the duties of organizing a large caravan and leading them through a long, incommodious and dangerous journey. He had borne the heavy pressure of protecting them. And then he had had to face the problems of Jerusalem.

Why now, when he was at his weakest, would God allow the worst to come against them?

Hanani, who was with him when the news came, said, “In a skirmish, we would be hopeless. If they plan to fight against us, there is little we can do to protect ourselves. Even with your Persian military escort we are shorthanded. Your escort was large enough to provide safe passage for a caravan, but it is too insignificant to make a real difference against so many enemies determined on our destruction.”

Nehemiah did not answer. What could he say? He agreed with many of Hanani’s concerns. Grey with weariness, he gathered those closest to him. Quoting Solomon, he reminded them, “
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good
. We will pray and ask for God’s guidance. He will show us the way, for human wisdom shall not prevail in these circumstances.”

They prayed long and hard. In spite of his fatigue, Nehemiah persevered and would not give up. He knew God was their hope. Their strength. When they were finished, Nehemiah had a plan.

“We will guard the city day and night. We will protect ourselves as we build. And we will succeed.” Strangely, with that resolution, he felt a new vigor. The discouragement that had overwhelmed him at the initial news of the impending attack lifted off him as if it had never been.

Before Nehemiah could put his plans into action, he received a visit from a group of men who represented the workers. “My lord,” they said. “We are exhausted. For a month we have worked fourteen hours every day. The strength of the laborers is giving out. What’s more, the conditions at the construction site are becoming untenable. There is more rubble than ever to contend with. The site has become downright dangerous in parts. The other day one of the children stumbled upon a piece of masonry and split his leg open from knee to ankle. We cannot rebuild the wall. Not under these conditions.”

“I see.”

The man reddened under Nehemiah’s steady gaze. “We are tired. And now there are whispers that the enemy is going to attack us. The Judeans who live near those parts bring us repeated reports of Sanballat’s imminent onslaught. If we aren’t dead from weariness first, we’ll die by their arrows.”

Nehemiah placed a bracing hand on the speaker’s arm. “In the midst of a significant building project, one has to face a point when it seems there is more chaos than there is progress. This is where you are. You’ve grown tired. You feel overcome. But do not set your mind on the disarray of the moment, for when God is in the building, chaos will eventually be replaced by His order. When things appear to be falling apart, God is in fact causing them to fall into place.

“Do not be swayed by Sanballat’s threats. He has increased his attacks because he’s afraid. The wall is so high that Sanballat and his friends are losing confidence. That’s why they bear down so hard against us. Their new tactic is to terrorize us. To plant fear in our hearts so that we will give up. But God is bigger than Sanballat. Although things seem to be falling apart, even now, in the midst of our worst disarray, the Lord is working to make them fall together for our future good.” He took a deep breath and allowed his hand to fall away from the man’s arm.

“I am making plans for the defense of Jerusalem. I will ensure that the workers have a short rest as I make preparations. Don’t lose heart now. In your exhaustion, you feel overwhelmed. You want to give up. What you don’t know is that you are close to victory.”

Nehemiah invited Darius and Lysander for a private conference and explained the situation to them. Darius considered the news for a moment. “They mean to throw you into confusion. Thus far, your people have worked wholeheartedly. But this news is bound to shake their confidence. If they believe that coming to work on the wall means they’ll be killed by an errant arrow, they are not going to feel as motivated as before to show up.”

“So we must give them the feeling of security,” Nehemiah said.

“The feeling and the reality. I don’t think your enemies are making empty threats. They are intent on killing your workers. But only because they believe them to be easy prey. Once we give them the message that Jerusalem is not to be won so simply, they will give up their intention of attacking you.”

After studying the map of the city, the three men decided upon a defense strategy. Nehemiah stationed some of his people behind the lowest points of the wall, where the city was most exposed. He posted families at strategic locations. Not only were they providing essential defense, but they were also located in positions where the enemy could spy them with ease. The glint of their weapons could be seen from leagues away. With a few well-placed guards, Nehemiah had managed to make Jerusalem appear like a fully defended garrison city.

Those who owned arms brought their own. A few even donned coats of mail. Nehemiah provided swords and spears and bows for the rest. He gave the workers a day of rest while he waited for the enemy to reconsider their plans.

Once he had inspected these defenses and determined their effectiveness, he called a gathering of the people and the nobles. As always, he opened the meeting with a simple prayer for the Lord’s protection and guidance. And then he spoke to his countrymen. He had not prepared his speech beforehand. He relied on God to give him the words.

“People of Jerusalem, you have heard the rumors that Sanballat, Tobiah, and their friends intend to attack us. Do not fear! You have worked harder and better than they expected. You have accomplished an impossible task. You have completed half of the wall. That half is already providing an effective defense for us. Our men who stand behind it, guarding Jerusalem even as I speak, have enough covering to remain safe against an onslaught of arrows.

“Remember the Lord. He is great and glorious. Remember also your families, for you fight for your brothers, for your sons and your daughters. You fight for your wives and your homes.”

There were tears in many eyes. Men wiped at their cheeks surreptitiously. Nehemiah took a deep breath and let silence settle over the crowd for a moment. He let his words sink in before beginning again.

“There is no other nation that can boast of your faithfulness. You have come from far and wide in Judah: from Tekoa, Gibeon, Mizpah, and Jerusalem’s hinterland. You have worked long hours with no pay. You have sacrificed your comfort for the Lord.

“You come from every background conceivable. The high priest has been working alongside merchants and officials and women and rulers. You, Malkijah, although you are ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem, you have been repairing the Dung Gate. Never once did I hear you whisper that it was beneath your dignity to work on that smelly stretch of land.”

The crowd laughed. Malkijah bowed low until his forehead almost touched the ground. The crowd went wild.

“And you, Shallum, ruler of the half-district of Jerusalem, though you have no sons, you brought your daughters to help you repair the wall. I tell you, if I had a son half as strong as one of your daughters, I would count myself blessed.”

“And they are all of marriageable age, lord governor!” Shallum shouted. “Just in case there is an interested bride-groom with a hefty bride price milling about.”

A deafening cheer went up among the people. Nehemiah smiled.

The enemy still lurked at their door. The workers remained weary to the marrow of their bones. The work sites continued to be dangerous. Judea’s economy was still in shambles. Nothing had changed in their circumstances. But Nehemiah knew that the spirit of the people had turned from fear and defeat to hope. And that was how victories were made. God was teaching him—and His people—that when it came to battle, what happened in the mind had far more power than what happened in the world.

Sarah could not sleep. She did not know if it was the discomfort of her body or the constant worry about Jerusalem that kept her wakeful. If the rumors were to be believed, their enemy might charge against them at any moment. Giving up on rest, she abandoned her bed and, donning a linen robe loose enough to accommodate her increasing girth, she grabbed a light scarf and slipped out of her chamber. She decided to visit the courtyard, hoping the fresh air would help clear the cobwebs from her mind. A small lamp lit a narrow path as she navigated the uneven stairs. The hour had grown late, and she walked quietly to avoid disturbing the rest of the household. She was on the second to last step when a voice jolted her. “Sarah!”

She almost jumped out of her skin. Looking up, she saw Darius striding toward her. “I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.