Thursday November 06, 2025

In Nehemiah chapter 5, the work on the wall comes to a halt—not because of outside enemies like Sanballat or Tobiah, but because of internal conflict. Wealthy Jews were oppressing their poorer brothers through excessive interest rates, forcing them into debt and even slavery. Nehemiah, though angry, responded with wisdom: he prayed, thought through the situation, and then confronted the leaders publicly. He reminded them of God's law and their history of redemption, calling them to repentance. Nehemiah also led by example, refusing his governor's salary and instead providing meals for the people. The chapter shows us that sometimes the greatest threats to God's work come from within His people.