Originally posted: 7/08/2020
Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies… (7:5).
Rebuilding an entire city was no easy feat. It would require wise planning, careful attention and adherence to all that was recorded in the book of the genealogy, and a fervent commitment to follow and implement God’s plan according to His design.
…Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record: (7:5).
This was not a job for those weak in will or fortitude. And it was definitely not a job to be led by mere man.
Consider Him Who Leads His Own
Nehemiah was a man who was yielded towards his God; and it was Nehemiah’s God Who would Lead and put His plan into Nehemiah’s heart. Nehemiah’s God. Not the God of the nations, not the God of the peoples, not the God of all creation. For although He rightly bears each of those Names, Nehemiah referred to God, not as an unknown or distant God, not as the all-powerful, all-knowing God, although He is in fact so; but in speaking about this Almighty and Awesome God, Nehemiah referred to Him personally and claimed God to be “my God,” revealing his personal relationship with the God of all creation.
Nehemiah intimately and personally knew his God. Nine times in the book of Nehemiah, he confidentially claims God as, “my God,” (2:8,12,18; 5:19; 6:14; 7:5; 13:22,29,31).
Although some may find it an audacious claim, Nehemiah was convinced; his God was in charge; his God was sovereignly accomplishing His plan; and his God would Lead him in the necessary decisions for the welfare of His people. And this amazing God, was his God. And because Nehemiah knew his God, he was able to walk in the security and counsel of Him Who Leads His Own.
Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies… (7:5).
How do we respond to Him Who Leads His Own?
In order to have the assurance that we are being Led by God, in order to know we hear His voice, we too must be able to claim to know Him as “my God,” through faith in Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in the sacrifice He made by His laying down His life as payment for our sins, He makes us His own.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep… 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep,” (John 10:11, 14-15).
When we belong to Him, we can fully trust Him Who Leads His Own. And He has provided all we need in His book of records, His Holy Scriptures.
- When life feels uneven and unstable, when we have questions about which way to go, we can ask Him Who Leads His Own to line up our will with His own.
- Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground, (Psalm 143:10).
- Teach me to do Your will,
- When we feel trapped and enslaved to fear, we can trust Him Who Leads His Own to bring us into His freedom and fortitude, so graciously given to everyone who has trusted Christ for salvation.
- For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him, (Romans 8:14-17).
- As we follow Him Who Leads His Own, He will be faithful to grow us in His likeness, that we would crucify the desires and deeds of the flesh, enabling us to bear the fruit of His Holy Spirit.
- But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires, (Galatians 5:18-24).
Oh, that we would so grow to trust Him Who Leads His Own, convinced He is pleased to put into our hearts all that is needed, both to will and to serve Him.
Then my God put it into my heart .. (7:5).
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure, (Philippians 2:13).
As we pursue and yield to Him in faith, we can depend on His Holy Spirit to empower us, that we would daily follow Him Who Leads His Own.
Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:25 HCSB).