WEDNESDAY May 17, 2017
An Authoritative Rebuke
And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say. - Nehemiah 5:8
Nehemiah’s questions to the leaders would remind them of their bondage endured under the Persians.Yet, here they were placing their own people back under bondage themselves––think about that! Nehemiah tried to get them to really think, “Are you going to sell your own brethren?” He rebuked the leaders because they were the ones in command. Even the priests were guilty of taking advantage of the people (Nehemiah 5:12).
In response, they had no defense and could not answer Nehemiah a word. Why? These leaders knew what they had done was wrong according to the authority of the Law of God (Deuteronomy 23:19-20).
Nehemiah had questioned their wisdom and understanding as if to say, “Why have you not learned your lesson yet? Where is the wisdom in your decisions?” The Lord spoke clearly through Nehemiah. The leaders were convicted before the Lord for their wrongdoing.
Here is a key lesson for us to learn from this whole situation. Because the parents did not obey the Lord in building God’s house when they returned to the land, they did not prosper (Haggai 1:3). So, as a result of their disobedience, their children became slaves––how sad. Understand that parents who do not place God first, compromise and choose to live for themselves, will cause their children to suffer tremendously. Remember sin affects not just us but those we love around us––our children.
As Christians we need to be wise men and women. We should be able to handle and judge matters of sin in the church, or between each other. (Matthew 18:15-17). The Bible tells us, we shall judge angels! How much more then, should we be able to resolve problems that arise.
Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more,
things that pertain to this life?
~1 Corinthians 6:3~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!