Where Is My Brother?

In Nehemiah chapter four, Nehemiah is leading the Isrealites in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was able to rally his people to enter into this task in spite of knowing that it would take lots of time to finish and opposition was sure to come. We see in verse 12, opposition came and the Jews were terrified. What I find interesting is Nehemiah's response:

verse 13 'Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

First thing I see is that he posted them by families, second he charged them not to be afraid but to remember the Lord, and finally to fight for their family members and their homes.

Many times we believe that we are busy doing the work of the Lord, but, at the same time, we are neglecting our families. You wonder if family is a random institution by God seperate from his call on our life to build his Kingdom. Nehemiah didn't think so. He didn't seperate the family to do the work of Lord. That would have been counterproductive to tear the walls of the family to build the physical wall the city.

Nehemiah was also carefull to remind them what they were really fighting for, their family and their home. We often pray for revival, which, in our mind, can look like millions of people raising their hands to the heavens. While that is a good start, we have yet to see an awakening of people to love one another, especially their family.

We can so easily miss it. As soon as we think 'serving the Lord', it can be an immediate thought to be on the campus, do a service project, go on the mission field, etc. While these can indeed be a good service to the Lord, we can't miss what is most important to God. When Cain thought he could just offer sacrifices to the Lord, God came to him and first asked "Where is your brother?"

I would like to encourage all of us to ask ourselves that question daily. "Where is our brother?" Not just in a physical location sense, but also in the sense of where is our brother in relation to us. Are we in good relationship? Do I need to forgive or do I need to repent to him/her for something? How can I encourage by brother, sister, wife, husband, son, daughter, today to spur him/her on to do great things.

This brings pleasure to the Lord and is the very work of God.

I love you all.