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After the walls had been built, Nehemiah continued to beef up security to ward off the hostile enemies. It was normal to open the gates at sunrise, however, Nehemiah determined they should wait until the heat of the day when people were up and active. This would prevent a surprise attack from coming early in the morning hours.
Nehemiah records a list that actually comes from Ezra 2. It is important to understand that this list was not the people who returned after the walls were built. These were the initial 2% who decided to come back and help Nehemiah with the rebuild after permission was granted by the King of Persia.
These people were pioneers. They left the comfort of their established life in Babylon to experience the new opportunities that God had for them in Jerusalem. The important aspect to consider here is that it would have cost them something. As we read, the houses inside the walls were abandoned or nonexistent. It would have taken tremendous faith to leave the security of Babylon for the unknown of Jerusalem. After all, they had tried to restore Jerusalem before and they had been overrun by their enemies.
I don’t want us to miss the significance of these names. Yes, we may skim over them, however, these families are listed twice in the Word of God! (Ezra 2 & Nehemiah 7). Obviously, they were central to God’s restoration process and of all the Jewish people they would have been the very first to believe in that restorative plan.
Does this describe you? Are you someone who recognizes where God is moving and jumps right in? Are you part of the 2% who will leave your own comfort to place your faith in His promises?