for the exiled, those in captivity... God always makes a way...

"Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there: Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity to Jerusalem and to the other towns of Judah. They had been deported to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar." - Nehemiah 7:4-6

Nehemiah went back to build the wall. It had been completely ruined and Jerusalem stood vulnerable. Well, what was left of it. His heart was for his homeland, for his people, and so he wanted to go back to help them reestablish their city. The city God had given them. Their rightful land. And so the wall was step one. And Nehemiah saw that it was done. The wall was up, so the task was complete. But the job wasn't finished. Because it was more than just building a wall. They needed to take the next step. The wall was built, but now what?

Nehemiah realized they had a lot of room. Too much room. Noticeable room. They didn't fill the space. There was still a lot of emptiness inside of that wall they worked so hard to complete. From the outside, it looked safe. It looked strong and new and almost like they had it all together. But the inside was a different story. And Nehemiah knew that the emptiness showed their true weakness. Numbers aren't everything, but in this case they mattered. Because the less of them there were, the more vulnerable they appeared. After all, Solomon, the man of great wisdom, of God's wisdom said,

 

"Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

 

There is safety in numbers. We all know that. So did Nehemiah, and the people needed each other. But more than that, they needed God.

 

You see, they weren't in Jerusalem because they had been exiled. They had been defeated and captured and carried away. This became a regular event in the life of God's people. And you say, "Why would God let His people be captured and put into exile?" But they brought it on themselves. Time and time and time again, they forgot about God. Rather than whole heartedly serving their Creator, they gave their hearts away. A covenant people, His chosen, but that didn't seem to matter to them. They did things their way, not His way. They worshiped other gods rather than the one, true God. They let their hearts be consumed by the things of this world, and they strayed. And although God desired to captivate them, they landed themselves in captivity.

 

But He called them back. Each time, He called them back to Himself. He made a way. A way they didn't expect. He opened doors, broke down barriers, and he made a way for them. A way for them to return to their bridegroom. His beloved. His prized, treasured possession. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.

 

So maybe you're empty, maybe you've strayed. Maybe you're in captivity, longing to be back. You wonder how you'll ever return, or if you'll ever return. But you are beloved. You're chosen and dear. You're treasured and valuable and seen. He hasn't forgotten, He never forgets. And His love never fails. He is a way-maker. An expert home-bringer, and He will lead you back, too. He's done it before, and He will do it again.

 

God will always make a way.