7. Nehemiah: Building Unity Brick by Brick - Faithful and Fearing God Until Fruition

Exciting things happen in Nehemiah 7 with thousands of people moving back to Israel to end the captivity in Babylon as prophesied. There were some who had either not been taken into captivity or had escaped that were doing the work to keep things together until the grand reunion and restoration of Israel. This wasn’t an easy or rewarding responsibility, yet through God’s provision, these people had a God-given burden of their own to ensure the necessary work got done, even though they surely felt short-handed. What a joy they must have felt when they saw the full circle completed with the people of Israel’s return. We’ll learn this week of Hananiah, who is described as faithful and God-fearing. Really, he was faithful BECAUSE he was God-fearing. If the people around us were asked what kind of people we are, what are the characteristics that define you and me? Would it be faithful? Would it be God-fearing? These two attributes alone encompass a whole swath of implied characteristics as well, don’t they? Let’s let faithfulness and being God-fearing be how we are seen as we put into practice what we believe, even in seasons of our life that haven’t seem come full-circle yet. Key Verse: Nehemiah 7:2 - "I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many." For Scripture, notes, upcoming events, & more: http://bible.com/events/49451002