who can do it?

I am reading this part of the Bible I have read plenty of times before and it leaps out at me...
Don't you just love how God can do that? How He can take some of this 'living word' and prove it is really 'living' in a single moment and make something alive to you - even if you have read it before!

It is the account of Nehemiah and the whole building a wall thing...
Yes many of us have heard messages on this and even preached a few ourselves.
But this is what leapt out at me. The question of who was actually doing the work of rebuilding?
You can be forgiven for thinking it was either the masses or the qualified. Because that is how things normally go isn't it?
Either a whole group got stuck in with no distinction between each other. It is like the mob (in a good way) decides to do something and makes it happen.
The other extreme is where the most qualified are left to do the so called 'best job'. Makes sense if they do it and the rest watch. That way it is 'done right'...

God doesn't work to this rigid of design or agenda.
When you ask "who can do it?", "who can do something special for God?" - God shows us here something special...something I think that is about how you and I are called to be.
Check out some verses with me a moment. All based around Nehemiah's account of who actually did the work. Yes there were priests and other so called qualified people. But others got a special mention. There is something we can learn here I think...

Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Nehemiah 3:8

Goldsmith and Perfumes-makes building a wall!
Reminds me that qualification is not a 'God-term'. As the phrase goes, God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called! It doesn't matter what you do for a crust, God can use you to do anything if you want Him too. Forgot if you are qualified or not for...if God puts it on your heart to do something then you are more than qualified on that point alone.

Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. Nehemiah 3:12

Referring to the daughters is such a biggee - especially coming from this culture.
The women were never allowed to do the most important things. But here they are taking responsibility for the most important thing of the time.
Reminds me God doesn't care about gender or position in society. He cares about heart and willingness. They are the people that God picks everytime!

The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. Nehemiah 3:5

Here are the so called 'qualified' not wanting to help. The people who thought getting stuck in to the work of God was beneath them. That they had some how grown past this role and it was for others.
Reminds me that we never should think this way. You never graduate from 'the work' to simply 'the watch'. There is always something we can do to contribute. Our world doesn't need more supervisors and/or critics. It needs love with hands on, hands willing to be part of building whatever God wants to build at the time.

...Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. Nehemiah 3:20

Baruch was just another name on a list of names. But he has the distinction of being recognised for his passion for the task. It is noticed by God and given recognition.
Reminds me the God's people should be the most passionate for the ministry we have been given.

Maybe there is something in this today that has stirred you in some way?
Maybe today you want to join up with God and build something for His glory?
Who can do it? You can, that's who!

Something to think about...