Planning is a process, but once you can see the finish line it is usually a good or energizing feeling. You are able to see all your hard work coming together. You are able to feel good about pushing through opposition, even the opposition that you may bring to the table (being tired, bad attitude, or something else). Once the plan is complete, you can sit back for a moment and take it all in before moving on to another plan or adding onto the current plan.
Nehemiah spent almost two full months getting the wall up around Jerusalem. Now that is a task. This project would have normally taken at least a year, but God was behind it. When God is behind a project or plan, then it will be successful and maybe miraculously. The walls were up and the doors installed. The protection and pride of the city was complete.
The enemies of the Jews were afraid. The wall gave the Jews the illusion of power. It may be true because they were unified and a unified people is not something that should be taken lightly. The Jews had a plan to keep the city safe.
Nehemiah put his brother, Hanani, in charge of the Jerusalem. He put Hanahiah in charge of the citadel. The residents became guards of the area closest to their homes. They were not looking for a fight, but they were not going to be pushed out either. Everyone had a job or career, so they had purpose.
Jerusalem was big and spacious, so many homes had not yet been rebuilt. Nehemiah want the people to have their homes, so he went through the genealogy of the returnees to direct them where to go to rebuild their personal lives. The families resettled where their ancestors had been evicted. It kept it honest and fair.
The people worked together to rebuild their lives and make Jerusalem what it once was. In some ways, they rebuilt it better because the nation was such a mess for a few hundred years before the excile. Now they had a chance to stay unified and do better.
Nehemiah 7
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