“Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.”
Nehemiah 2:14-15 (ESV)
Last time we saw the beginning route of Nehemiah’s secretive nighttime excursion. Today we see the rest of it as he circles back and returns the way he came. I thought a map might help. (Actually, I just needed one.)
Nehemiah originally leaves by way of the Valley Gate heading south (left on this map) around to the Fountain Gate. He does this to inspect the wall. The Hebrew for inspect is sabar – to view, tarry with hope.
Isn’t that what a leader does? Viewing a situation, seeing what needs to be done? Knowing when to wait, but waiting with hope?
Even the two verbs to describe Nehemiah’s arrival to the wall near the Valley reflect hope: hayah – to come, a beacon. And alah – ascend, climb. Leadership often requires being a beacon for others when the ocean is dark and shoreline inscrutable. Or climbing to a higher vantage point and calling back to others what’s ahead.
So grateful our Leader does this with perfect humility.
I keep thinking about the word behemah. There is a Hebrew word for horse. And specific nouns for donkey and mule. Makes me wonder why Nehemiah’s riding source is referred to as a mount. An unspecified beast.
Then we spent some time at the Zoo this week, marveling over God’s intricacy and variety. Viewing beasts, large and small, that are anything but unspecified to our creative God.
“A cavalcade would have attracted notice. Nehemiah probably rode a mule…rather than a horse. Riding over rough places by night he would require the most surefooted animal.” Source
When God’s Word refers to a surefooted animal, it is the female deer. She can place her back legs precisely where her front have trod while scaling rugged terrain.
Isn’t He beautiful?
“He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.”
(Psalm 18:33 NLT)
And His beauty and power in our lives are not based on circumstances:
“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.”
(Habakkuk 3:17-19 NLT)\
Whether He’s asking you to lead or let go, press on or tarry with hope, may you choose to rejoice in the Sovereign Lord. The One Who climbed a hill to Calvary to call back to us His Father’s love.