Nehemiah, son of Azbuk … made repairs … as far as the House of Heroes (Nehemiah 3:16).

Archaeologists are not sure what the House of Heroes mentioned in Nehemiah 3 was or its precise location.  May we suggest that the chapter itself is a “house of heroes”?

You may be familiar with Hebrews 11, the “heroes of the faith” chapter: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the rest are listed as champions of a life of allegiance and obedience to the Lord.  Although the names listed in Nehemiah 3 are far less familiar to us, they are nonetheless heroes in their own right.

The rebuilding project that Nehemiah inspired and led had dozens of ways it could go wrong, and just one way to go right.  The work was personally costly, in both time and treasure.  There was significant external opposition.  There were internal problems of all kinds: exhaustion, anxiety, scarce resources; apathy, indifference, discouragement; injustices and inequities among the people themselves.  The fact that the rebuilding even began was a miracle of God’s grace; the fact that it continued in the face of great resistance was a miracle; the fact that they “got ‘er done!” was a miracle.

So was it “all God” or “all them?”  Spiritual heroism is both.  Nehemiah makes it clear: “God put it into my heart,” “the gracious hand of our God was upon me,” “the God of heaven will give us success.”

Still: Nehemiah had to appeal to the emperor, had to make the journey to Jerusalem, had to inspect the city and develop a plan, had to mobilize and organize a defeated, discouraged people.  Responsibilities had to be assigned (and accepted!), rubble had to be hauled away, shovels taken in hand, guards posted, accounts kept, accusations answered, disputes adjudicated.  It wasn’t “all God” in this sense, nor was it “all Nehemiah,” as vital as his role was.  It was “all of us” as well.

None of these folks signed up for “hero school,” none went out looking for heroic work to do, and I’m pretty sure none of them saw themselves as anything other than ordinary.  But because of God, they each and all became more than they had ever thought possible.  God was “all in” on this rebuilding thing, and as the people, each and all, decided to get “all in” themselves, walls were rebuilt and heroes were formed.

So, “all God” or “all us?”  Here’s what I think they, and all true spiritual heroes, would say about that: “God did it—and allowed me to help!”

What is God inviting you to be or to do that you’re having a hard time with?  What’s your next step … in prayer