Completing the wall right around the city in just fifty two days was an amazing achievement (v15). This was accomplished as God was in it and even the enemies of God’s people knew this and feared (v16).

As a church we need to pray that God would enable us to do things beyond our capabilities that will amaze people as to what is done. This is not to draw attention to ourselves but to great God who has made it possible. One of the most important things in this light will be the salvation of sinners. Lives transformed by God grace really cause people to take notice.

While God is active we can be sure the devil will be busy too and here he is using some of the family ties that Tobiah had with the Jews to seek to further undermine Nehemiah (v17-19). ‘Blood is thicker than water’; there is a lot of truth to this statement. We need to be careful that family ties do not hinder us being faithful to God and his people as our family’s desires take over.