Jonathan Goforth-Cheers

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1888

Jonathan Goforth-29 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. Deep inside, I know it's true and the day is getting closer.

Graduation from Knox College in Toronto happened last night. I had hoped I'd be on my way to China within a week, but it isn't happening. 

I've spoken with many churches the last two years, looking for support to send me to China. All of the church boards say they'll only continue supporting missionaries who are in previously arranged countries. That did not include China.

I didn't know what else to do. So, I applied to Hudson Taylor's mission, the China Inland Mission. I filled out all the paperwork, stuffed them in an envelope, and mailed them to the mission.

The next day, the guys from my dorm called me into a meeting room. I didn't think they'd try to pick on me again. They'd stopped two years ago. But I still didn't know what they wanted. I knocked on the door.

"Come in," one of the guys said.

I turned the knob and pushed the door open.

"Surprise!" A room full of guys shouted.

I didn't understand. It wasn't my birthday. They'd graduated, too, so there wasn't a reason for me to have a surprise party any more than one of them. I walked in the room to their applause. "What's going on?"

One of the guys handed me a glass of punch. "Raise your glasses." They all raised their glasses high. The leader said, "Jonathan Goforth, you are going to China."

I knew that. I just didn't know when. "Okay. So what's going on?"

"As you know, none of the organizations from Knox College have supported a missionary. We've decided to change that. Every man in this room has agreed to contribute to your support to China and become the first class to send a missionary to China."

"What?"

"It's true. It's been arranged. I'm sure once the local churches hear what we've done, there will be many more wanting to support your work. Cheers."

The others echoed the word, "Cheers."

I didn't know what to say. Truly God put this idea in their hearts. These were the guys who bullied me when I first came. And now they want to support my missionary work in China. Thank you, God!

In the next weeks, several church changed their minds, all saying they wanted to give money to send me to China. My entire support has been promised.


One month after I graduated from college, I married Rosalind. And in January, 1988, pastors, professors, workers from the Toronto mission all gathered for my commissioning service.

Within a few days, I held Rosalind's hand and walked with her, escorted by the same crowd that attended my commissioning service, the half mile to the train station. 

Rosalind and I are on our way to China! I'm so excited.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Nehemiah-Backyard Camping Feast

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 8

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

The walls are finished, Israelites are living in the city, businesses are growing. 

We brought all the Israelites together and held a meeting by the Water Gate. Ezra, the prophet, read the Book of the Law of God to all the men, women, and the children who could understand. The people wept as they heard the laws and rules we hadn't been obeying. We all realized how we had failed. We realized what we should have been doing. The sorrow in our hearts felt heavy.

As one of their leaders I told the people to go home. Eat. Rest.

Now the second day of the seventh month has begun. Ezra, the Levites, and I continued to study the Book of the Law of God and found the Lord had commanded through Moses that we should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 

How exciting. We called the people back to hear these new instructions. Those who could come back gathered around the platform where Ezra stood. He read these instructions, "You are to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month and tell those who live in towns outside Jerusalem to go into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees. Also branches from myrtles, palms, and shade trees to make the booths."

The people left right away, combing the hillsides for the branches to make the booths. The booth was like a tent with an opening. The roofs of the houses were flat and made a perfect place for a booth. For those who didn't have room on their roof, they built booths in their courtyards, in the courts of the temple, and in the square of the Water Gate and Gate of Ephraim. 

Every family made a booth and lived in them for seven days. Sadly, from the days of Joshua until this very day, the Israelites had not celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in this way. We actually had a lot of fun. It was like the way you camp in your backyard. The children giggled. The adults praised God. Everyone sang and had so much fun.

Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God for all to hear. The Israelite brothers celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day,  according to the rules in the Law all the Israelites in the area gathered for a meeting.

Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-Don't Be Sad, For the Joy of the Lords is Your Strength

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 8

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

The walls are finished, Israelites are living in the city, businesses are growing. 

Now that we felt like a nation, we needed to act like the nation God wanted us to be. Many of the people, including myself, didn't really understand what God expected from us. We'd mostly grown up in slavery in Babylon. Many Israelites were even born after our fathers had been taken as prisoners and had never seen this city before.

So, the time came to teach.

Photo Courtesy

A few years ago Cyrus, the king in Babylon at the time had sent the prophet Ezra to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. Ezra is still here.

He and I met. We talked about the need to read the Law of Moses to all the people, to teach them the ways of God. 

We set up a time for all Israelites to meet in Jerusalem. It was the seventh month when we asked the people to gather in the square before the Water Gate. 

photo courtesy

On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest stood on a high wooden platform built for this very moment. Priests stood on his left and right. Ezra opened the book before men and women and children who could understand the words about to be read. Everyone could see him no matter where they stood. The people stood as he opened the book. 

Ezra started by praising the Lord, the great God. All the people lifted their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

He read the Book of the Law of Moses aloud from daybreak till noon. The people listened, excited to hear every word.

Afterwards the Levites read from the Book of the Law of God, making the messages clear and giving meaning so the people could understand what was read.

Photo Courtesy

The people wept as they listened to the words of the law. Ezra and I were glad to see they were sorry, and wanted to help them move past their sorrow to see how much God loved them.

The Levites, Ezra, and I stood before the people. We said, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or cry. Instead, go and enjoy good food and sweet drink, and send food to those who have none. This day is sacred to our Lord. Don't be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

When we'd convinced the people, they went away to eat and drink. They also sent food to those in need and celebrated with great joy because they now understood the words that Ezra first read to them.

Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Jonathan Goforth-The Power of Five Cents

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1887

Jonathan Goforth-28 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy Canadian Copper Coin

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. Deep inside, I know it's true and the day is getting closer.

Every Sunday, while I attended college, I had opportunities to speak in churches, a few I could walk to a few I took a train. Sometimes I preached three times in one day.

One Monday after speaking both Sunday morning and Sunday night, I took a train back to my dorm.

As the train pulled away from the station a man asked if he could sit in the empty seat next to me. Of course, I was more than happy to share. This could be a God moment. A chance to share Christ with someone who had never heard about the God who loved him.

After the man settled into his seat he said, "I heard you preach in our church yesterday. When our pastor said you would speak on missions, I planned to give five cents in the collection plate."

Let me interrupt this man to help you understand. He was not a wealthy person. The fact that he planned to give what few coins he had amazed me. Not only that, five cents back in my day was the same as $1.11 in your day. Still doesn't sound like much to you? Well, keep reading and see what God did.

The man said, "I usually give coppers on Sunday"

I will interrupt him again to let you know "copper" means penny.

The man said, "but seeing this particular collection was to go for missions, I decided that I couldn't think of giving less than five cents. After you started speaking, I began to wish I had ten cents."

Which is the same as $2.22 for you, reader.

The man said, "A little later in your talk, I though a quarter would be too little to give."

Which is the same as $5.54 for you, reader.

The man said, "Half way through your talk I wished I had a dollar bill to give to missions.

Which is the same as $22.18 for you, reader.

The man said, "And by the time you finished, I would gladly have given a five-dollar bill."

Which is the same as $110.88 for you, reader.

I couldn't tell if the man was more disappointed he couldn't give the money to missions or excited to hear what God has and will do on the mission field.

Anyway a few months passed when I received an interesting letter in the mail. It was from the pastor of the man I met on the train. The letter said:

I suppose you remember having a conversation with a certain member of my congregation on the train. Well, that man has since sold a piece of property and has given several hundred dollars of the proceed to foreign mission.

Since receiving the letter, I've never forgotten that man or that conversation. The man not only found me on the train and shared what was on his heart, but he also followed through and did what God asked him to do. Such a lesson for me to learn that God will always provide the money needed for His work.

I know he will provide a way for me to go to China once I graduate....which is soon!!

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Nehemiah-A Ghost Town

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 7

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

We've finished the work. In fact, last night was the first night we slept in peace. The gates were closed, the walls protected us from our enemies...yes, we all had a good sleep.

I walked through the city the next morning and discovered a new problem. We didn't have enough people living here. It was like a ghost town.

I know! Seems like a crazy problem, but it was. A city needs people living in it to thrive. Without people, old buildings aren't taken care of, animals and plants invade...all kinds of problems happen.  

I hadn't noticed the lack of people before, because we had many Jewish brothers helping to build the wall. The entire city was bustling. Those men went to their homes in the country after they finished rebuilding the walls. 

Little towns all around Jerusalem had been built a long time ago. Families built their homesteads there. Sons took over as fathers grew old. Back then, many people also lived in the city. Business thrived. 

Untile Nebuchadnezzar conquered seventy years ago and took most of the Jews who lived in the city and some who live in the countryside into captivity.

I called a meeting inviting men from all twelve tribes to discuss the problems we currently faced. The first order of business I addressed was to set a rule about the gates. I said to them, "The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses. This will keep us safe."

"The next problem we face is the lack of people living in the city. We need to rebuild homes and businesses. This will take more people moving back to the city."

They all agreed. God gave me the brilliant idea to call all the Israelites together and to register each family. I had found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return from captivity. 

There was one group of people who searched for their family records but could not find the paperwork. Unfortunately we had to exclude them from the priesthood that they claimed, but we did not make them leave.

The leaders settled in Jerusalem and the rest of the people chose one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem. The remaining nine were to stay in their own town to keep it populated. Those who volunteered to move to the city were congratulated for their sacrifice.

The rest of the Israelites lived in the towns of Judah, each on his ancestral property.

With everyone settling in, we became a restored nation. One that will grown strong and fight our enemies.

Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-The Torment My Brothers Had Faced From Bullies Finally Stopped

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 6

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

Ugh, I'm sad to report life has not been good. 

Have you ever tried so hard to get something done but ran into troubles because a bully kept getting in the way? Yeah. That has been life here.

When I worked in Babylon as a slave to the king and heard the news that the walls for Jerusalem had not been built, I couldn't understand why my Jewish brothers living in Jerusalem didn't get the work done. I, sad to say, thought they were lazy.

I was wrong.

Now I see my Jewish brothers had constantly been tormented by bullies, men who were not Jews, men who prevented and threatened my brothers if they did any work on the walls. And how could my Jewish brothers stand up to the bullies when an army of trouble makers helped?

Now I understood. 

I am so tired of fighting these guys who continually pick on us. 

I spend many hours in prayer asking God to comfort me, to help me know how to handle the situation, to...I don't know...do something. And God has. Everyday I am here I am surprised to see progress on the wall. Progress God has helped us to make.

And now, as we are closing in on finishing the work, the bullying is increasing. Remember Tobiah, the friend of Sanballat? The two who led the bullying? Yeah. Well, he has been writing letters to the nobles who live in Jerusalem. Yes, you remember those lazy Jewish nobles who felt they shouldn't have to help build the walls. The ones who paid others to do their work but expected to receive all the benefits. Well, the nobles received letters from Tobiah asking them to meet with me, although I didn't know that was why they came, and asked questions Tobiah wanted them to ask.

The nobles may be lazy but they are my Jewish brothers. I thought they just wanted to talk. But no, they were aiding Tobiah. After speaking with me they wrote my answers back to Tobiah who used the information to send letters to me. All to cause more trouble. This is just such a miserable time.

I'm not sorry I came. I am sorry I didn't realize the torment my brothers had gone through while living here.

In all fairness I brought these sorrows to God. "Remember what Tobiah and Sanballat did to us, O my God. Remember also the evil prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me."

I know God will take care of the problem. There is nothing more I can do to make them stop.

Photo Courtesy

The good news is, the wall has been completed. the gates hung. There is no way for anyone to enter the city without permission.

AND THIS....THIS...is what our enemies did not want. 

When they heard the news that they could not enter the city to cause trouble without going through a guarded gate, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence. They realized that this work of building the walls to protect the great city of Jerusalem had been done with the help of our God.


Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Jonathan Goforth-The Rich Girl Said Yes!

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1887

Jonathan Goforth-28 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. Deep inside, I know it's true and the day is getting closer.

I've been thinking about China. Planning. Trying to figure out what I still needed to do besides my schoolwork. 

Saturday night at the mission couldn't happen soon enough. Rosalind would be there to play the organ for the service.

I put on my suit and hurried to the Toronto mission that night. Okay, I arrive a bit early...and was hoping to hear her practice. Instead I got caught up in conversation with another worker until the service began.

I listened to the sermon. I really did. And I listened to her organ playing. Such a beautiful sound. She had a gift, and was so lovely, I mean she played the music so lovely. 

At the end of the service, the Toronto mission's committee invited Rosalind to help set up a new mission on the east side of town. I thought she'd say yes to the honor right away. But she didn't. She stood there and thought, then said she'd pray about her decision.

I was confused. I thought she felt the same calling to serve God as I did. Not that her hesitation was wrong. She must have other ideas for her future.

I went home a bit disappointed. Later, when talking with my friend, Mr. Obrien, I found out why Rosalind hesitated about accepting the position.

She grew up in a very wealthy home. Her father died and left word in his will that Rosalind would only inherit the family money if she went back home to England to teach in the Kensington School of Art. She had the talent. I could see why he might have said this. She even had her bags packed to leave yet this coming week.

Rosalind's mother became upset when she heard the news about the Toronto mission. "No. You cannot accept this position. You must go back to England like you father said."

Rosalind didn't know what to do. Her heart said to accept the position at the mission, her head said to do as her father said.

She prayed for a few days then made a decision. Her mother made her take her belongings and leave the house...and never come back.

Heartbroken, Rosalind moved to an apartment and began her work at the mission on the east side of Toronto. She and I worked to find a building, get supporters, and to let the community know the mission would help those in need. I loved my work there.

As the days and months slipped by, I fell in love with Rosalind. But would a rich girl marry a poor man from the country who offered nothing more than a difficult future in China? Not the best marriage proposal, right? She probably won' say yes.

I mean..why even bother to ask her?

I practiced what I would say.

We happened to go for a walk one fall evening when the colors on the trees sparkled with moisture. I turned to her and held her hands. This was the hard part. I could barely breathe. The words I'd memorized flew out of my head. My lips were dry.

I cleared my throat and said, "Rosalind, will you join me in China?" I hoped she'd understand what I meant.

She made a goofy grin. That's when I knew she understood what I meant. "Yes, Jonathan. I will."

I didn't have a ring for her. I looked down at the ground. "I don't have anything to give you. I, spent the last of my money on booklets to give to pastors." Here was the terrible test. Could this rich girl live without having a ring for a time? Every girl likes to show off an engagement ring.

She made me wait several minutes. She looked at her left hand with no ring. "Yes, Jonathan, I want to spend my life with you in China. What better way to begin than to use the ring money to help pastors."

I knew then, more than any other time that God had given me a wife and partner who would understand the cost of being a missionary.  Now we get to tell her mother. Yeah. I better tell that part of the story next week.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Nehemiah-The Bullies Tried to Smear My Name

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 6

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It's been twelve years since I arrived, and we are nearing completion. 

My job has been to encourage the men in their work rebuilding the walls, oversee plans, and work alongside those who needed help. I could tell my presence brought strength to the men. I didn't give up. So they saw they shouldn't give up.

I've told you in past stories about a couple of men who are making our lives absolutely miserable. Sanballat, Tobiah, and their army of fiends have tormented the Jews working on the wall with horrible insults. Since we've shown our solitary, the bullies have taken to picking on me. Sanballat sent me five messages trying to get me to leave the work to meet with him...in a valley...many miles away. 

Really? Why would I do something so foolish?

On one of my walks, I went to the house of Shemaiah. The poor man was a shut in, which meant he was unable to walk or was too ill to leave his home. I wanted to encourage him. Spend a little time talking to help him feel better.

Shemiah lay in his bed and asked me to sit by him. He said, "We should meet in the house of God, inside the temple. While there, we'll close the doors tight." He looked toward the window. I did too, but didn't see anyone. "There are men who are coming to kill you. They plan to come by night to kill you. Please. Meet me in the temple. I'll help you hide."

His face had sincerity, but I knew better. This was a trick. A way to pull me away from the job God had given me to oversee the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. And how long did he expect me to hide out there? Long enough for the men to lose courage to fight the bullies? Long enough for the walls to stop being built? I think not. "Tell me, Shemiah, should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his life? No. I won't do it. I won't go. 

Even as I spoke, I knew in my heart God had not sent Shemiah to give me this message. He prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by hiding from the very duty God gave me. And when I hid, Sanballat and Tobiah would give me a bad name to discredit me in front of all the Jews who were working. Then they wouldn't listen to my instructions and encouragement. No. I refused. 

I would continue my work to complete the walls of Jerusalem as God has asked me to do and no bully will stop me.


Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-The Lies That Didn't Work

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 5

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It's been twelve years since I arrived, and we are nearing completion. We had a ton of problems during those days. The main obstacle was the leader of a rebellious army.

Sanballat, his friend Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies worked night and day to stop us from rebuilding the walls. They tried everything from intimidation to downright bullying. Even now that we are near to finishing with the work, Sanballat is up to his cruel work even more.

Photo Courtesy

This morning, I received a message from Sanballat. It said, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.  

Jerusalem is high up on a mountain. Ono is west of us and down in a valley. So, Sanballat thought I would leave the safety of a city surrounded by walls to meet with him in the plain of Ono? I think not. Did he really think I wouldn't know he was scheming to harm me? Well, I won't go.

I sent his messenger back with this message, "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down to meet with you. Why should the work stop while I leave it to meet with you?"

Sanballat sent back the same message four times. Each time I sent back his messenger with my same message. I'd play his crazy game as much as he wanted, but I wouldn't meet with him.

The fifth time his messenger arrived with the same message, he also carried an unsealed letter: 

It is reported among the nations that you and the Jews are p[lotting to revolt, that is why you are building the wall.  According to these reports you are about to become their king and have appointed prophets to make this proclamation in Jerusalem: There is a new king in Judah! Now this report will get back to the king of Babylon and you wouldn't want that to happen. So, come. Let us meet together.

Did he really think these lies would convince me? I sent him this reply: "Your letter is false. you are just making up these stories in your head."

I knew what he was thinking, it was so clear. He thought we would get to tired to finish the work and not complete the project. 

But, I prayed, "O God, please strengthen my hands."

I refused to let this bully stop the work God had given to us. 





Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version