15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
Thoughts: The wall was completed in record time, and this discouraged the enemies of God and His people. When God obviously blesses us, it encourages His people and discourages those who do not have faith. The wall was built in less than two months- without skilled labor, extra money or resources. Tobiah (Tobiah means the Lord is good Tov= good and Yah= the Lord) was an Ammonite who did not care about the city or its people, but he wanted to continue control of the city. Even after the wall was built, there were still some who objected to Nehemiah's leadership. Though evil and Tobiah was defeated, they still found a way to infiltrate and discourage. But years later it would not be Tobiah who would be remembered, but Nehemiah.
Prayer: Lord, bless me that I may be a blessing.
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