Reaching A Milestone

Review

Turn to Nehemiah 6.

Last week we saw that we must prioritize the things that God prioritizes. Nehemiah did exactly that. He determined that rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a great work because God thought it was a great work. There was no time to be distracted with trivial things. Nehemiah committed his life to doing a great work - the work of God. This brought a satisfaction and a fulfillment to his life that no pleasure or pursuit could ever give.

Introduction

Read Nehemiah 6:10-15

Three hundred years before the time of Christ, the Romans began installing stone markers along roads to indicate distances between different cities. These were measured in Roman miles, which were approximately 1,000 paces apart. Augustus placed what was called the Golden Milestone in the Roman Forum around 20 BC. This was a central point from which all roads radiated, marking distances across the empire.

This practice of placing milestones throughout the road system would endure into Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Stone markers continued to be used along roads, such as in Britain, where “milestones” or “mileposts” were placed to guide travelers and indicate distances between towns. These were often simple stones or posts inscribed with distances.

In the 1800s, the term “milestone” began to be used figuratively to describe significant events or achievements. For example, reaching a key age, completing a major project, or achieving a breakthrough in science became referred to as “milestones.”

What we know from Roman history is this: a milestone did not indicate the end of a road. It was not the finish line. It was simply a marker for one portion of a long road. With the completion of the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah reached an incredible milestone despite many challenges. However, the opposition would not stop and the pressures would not cease. God had a bigger objective in mind for Nehemiah and He does for you as well.

In verses 10-14, Nehemiah is on the verge of reaching this milestone, but along the way he faced…

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Treachery and traps - Nehemiah 6:10-14

As I’ve been studying the life of Nehemiah this year, I’ve begun to wonder what else could have been thrown at this man. The severe testing that Nehemiah endured reminds me of Job! Nehemiah’s enemies were relentless! They did everything in their power and used everyone under their influence to discourage him and to make him quit!

In verse ten, Nehemiah makes a house visit to a prophet named Shemaiah. Shemaiah spoke matter-of-factly that Sanballat’s assassins were out to eliminate Nehemiah. Based on on what we’ve seen already, I don’t think that was an exaggeration.

Can you imagine being lead of God to go out and do some great work for Him, only to find out that evil men are hunting you and trying to assassinate you?

Again, had I been in Nehemiah’s shoes, I would have been like,

“Lord, I didn’t sign up for all of this! This isn’t fair! When can I catch a break?”

John 15:20 KJV 1900

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Application: Christian, don’t be surprised when you are hated for doing right.

Shemaiah made a proposal to save Nehemiah’s life. He suggested that they both go hide in the temple of Jehovah. Oh, they would be safe there!

When Nehemiah heard this suggestion that he hide in the temple, I think a fire lit up in eyes.

Read Nehemiah 6:11

In essence, Nehemiah says, “what kind of man do you think that I am? You think that I am going to go into the temple to save my life? I will not go in!”

Wow! Talk about a man of backbone! This was no coward! This was the same man who with fear and trembling would bow before a holy God in prayer.

Application: Listen! When a man trembles before God, God enables him to stand boldly before men!

Are you facing a fearful circumstance? I have found this true in my own life: when fear threatens to grip my soul, I find that God gives me courage when I get alone and abide in His presence. Nehemiah knew how to get alone with God - his prayers all throughout this book indicate this.

Nehemiah tells us some critical information in verse twelve.

Read Nehemiah 6:12

Now I read verse twelve and it begs this question: how did Nehemiah know? How was he able to perceive that Shemaiah was a false prophet who was getting paid to suggest this nonsense? How did Nehemiah see right through the treachery and traps that were set for him?

I’ll tell you how: he had an objective standard by which he judged everything he heard.

Shemaiah told Nehemiah to go hide in the Temple but there was one problem: only priests were allowed inside the Temple. Anyone like Nehemiah who was not of the priestly order was forbidden from going inside.

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Numbers 3:10 KJV 1900

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Only the priests were allowed inside the Tabernacle and only the priests were allowed inside the temple.

Nehemiah appears to have trusted this man.

Shemaiah claimed to be a prophet.

Shemaiah claimed to be speaking for God.

But when Shemaiah delivered a message that was contrary to the Word of God, Nehemiah perceived that God had not sent him. He was a false prophet.

Christian, take everything you hear and run it by the written standard of the Word of God.

It doesn’t matter if someone has thousands of subscribers on their Youtube channel and is widely trusted as an “expert.”

It doesn’t matter if they claim to be a prophet!

It doesn’t matter if they claim to be speaking for God!

If their words are contrary to the Scriptures, reject them.

Don’t go to the internet to get your theology. Don’t go to Youtube to learn about God. There’s all kind of people on there who are saying all kinds of crazy stuff about God just to get a following and to enjoy the ad revenue that comes with it. Isn’t it interesting that Shemaiah was bought and paid for by Sanballat? He was motivated by greed. Not much has changed today.

The Bible must be your sole authority. Study it. Meditate on it. Search it to understand how it all harmonizes with itself. Get to know the God who wrote it and you will be protected from the winds of false doctrine that are blowing today.

Nehemiah did all of those things and thereby God protected him from treachery and traps. Secondly we see…

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Completion and Continuation - Nehemiah 6:15-16

Read Nehemiah 6:15-16

The first great road to be built and completed by Roman engineers was the Via Appia, named after a roman senator who lobbied for its construction. The original branch of the road extended more than 100 miles and was an engineering marvel of its day. It crossed swamps, utilized drainage systems, layered stones and gravel for a solid foundation, and was paved with tightly fitted stones to create a smooth, durable roadway.

The Via Appia enabled rapid deployment of the Roman military to conflict zones and spurred economic growth. While this road was completed after just a few years, the road system would continue as a work in progress. It was a never-ending project as more than 50,000 miles of road were constructed to project Roman power to the furthest corners of the Empire. Some say the number of miles built was as high as 250,000.

After 52 days of work, Nehemiah and the Jews completed rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. It was an extraordinary milestone! Perhaps you would think that now Nehemiah could pack his bags and go home! He could leave this difficult chapter of his life behind him!

But that wasn’t God’s plan. This milestone was just that: a milestone. God’s plan for Nehemiah was to continue leading Jerusalem through the perilous times in which they lived.

Application: Have you ever been going through something in life and you just wished that God would let you take an exit ramp and escape the problem, whatever it is?

I’m sure Nehemiah felt that way many times as he was working on the wall. I’m sure there were times he quietly regretted volunteering for the job. But by God’s grace, he persevered. Notice what the result of this was in verse 16.

Read Nehemiah 6:16

Everybody knew that God had done this. There was no human explanation. It wasn’t thanks to powerful construction equipment. It wasn’t thanks to some incredible engineers that streamlined the construction process.

It was God.

Application: Christian, when you trust God to see you through a problem or a great challenge, you open the door for others to see God working through your life. “They perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”

Don’t quit! Keep trusting God! At some point, the great work will be completed. You’ll reach that milestone. More importantly, through that process God will become just a little more real to yourself and to those that are watching you.

Thirdly, we see…

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Letters and fears - Nehemiah 6:17-19

Read Nehemiah 6:17-19

The early 1900’s saw the rise of a grave new problem in American society. It was so bad and widespread that it earned a nickname: this new societal ill was called the “poison pen letters.” The term seems to have been coined in a news headline from 1911. The problem? Anonymous letters would flood certain towns, smearing highly respected individuals and accusing them of the worst of behavior. The letters intended to upset, frighten, or insult the recipient and to turn public opinion against them. The general effect was that the letters spread fear and distrust across all levels of society.

Nehemiah was subjected to similar abuse. Tobiah, Sanballat’s partner in crime, was behind all of it. He had established political alliances by marriage and had gained the loyalty of many of the Jewish nobles. Doesn’t sound like Nehemiah had many friends on his side. Letter after letter was sent to Nehemiah to make him afraid. Meanwhile, correspondence was kept up between Tobiah and many of Jewish nobles that were a bunch of sell-outs.

I get the picture that fear was a daily temptation for Nehemiah. How did he cope? Like we’ve seen previously, I think the answer lies in verses 9 and 14.

But I think there’s another question worth asking here: why didn’t God just step in and clean house? Why didn’t God just deal with Nehemiah’s enemies, stop these letters, and make the source of his fears go away?

I don’t know about you, but when something is a source of fear in my life, that’s how I would prefer God to handle it.

“God, just take away the problem! Please!”

So why didn’t God put a stop to these letters and bring some almighty judgment on Tobiah and the others that so richly deserved it? Why allow Nehemiah to continue under this daily pressure to be afraid?

Application: Christian, God’s objective for you is more than simply solving your problems. His objective is to use the problems to draw you to closer dependence upon Him.  Think of the problems you are facing in life right now:

Fear? Anxiety?

Financial stress? Poor health?  Grief?

Failing relationships? Broken dreams?

God wants to use these problems to help us see our own weakness. Yes, you and I are weak, but He is strong! Oh, God deeply cares about the problems that His children face, but it would be so shortsighted if He simply took all of those problems away because He wants to accomplish a much higher purpose in your life!

His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His ways are higher than our ways.

God is not interested in simply removing our problems; He is interested in growing our dependence upon Him.

Jesus said, “have faith in God.” That’s what it comes down to. Choose to trust Him. Choose to take Him at His Word, no matter what.

Conclusion

Over time, the Roman Empire’s road system would expand to its furthest frontier. Places such as London, in modern day England, Carthage, in north Africa, and Palmyra, in modern day Syria, all had one thing in common: milestones, marking the distance along Roman roads.

Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was an incredible milestone in the great work that God had given Nehemiah, but it wasn’t the end of the road. Likewise, Reaching A Milestone in your life is worth celebrating, but it doesn’t always mean that problems will go away or that the work is done. God may have a higher purpose in mind. Choose to trust Him beyond the milestone.

Invitation

“I am not saved”

You need to be saved.

Christian, do you feel shunned or even hated for doing right? Follow Jesus.

Are you fearful? Get alone with the Almighty. As you learn to fear God, He will enable you to face your fears on this earth.

Christian, is the Bible your sole authority for life? Or is God’s voice just one of many that you listen to? Don’t mix the world’s wisdom with God’s. They have nothing in common.

Christian, are you going through some problems? You want to just reach that milestone and get it all over with? God’s plan might not be that simple. Trust Him. Lean on Him. Courageously ask Him to accomplish His plan in your life.