Nehemiah 5

In Nehemiah 5, the people of Jerusalem bring Nehemiah a serious issue that has been going on in their nation. There was a great famine in the land and people were forced to sell their property, homes, and even their children to survive. Their fellow brothers and sisters in the nation who were wealthy were using the crisis to exploit their brothers and sisters by charging impossible interest to anything that was loaned. Righteous anger bubbled up within Nehemiah and He brought it straight to the Lord for counsel and direction and to ensure he didn't react in rage rather than in the wisdom of God. He called out the issue directly and appealed to their love and based his appeal solely on the Word of God. He reminded the nation of their purpose and mission and who God determined they were to be. He not only spoke the words, but he faithfully lived out his own words and his life, character, and integrity was a living example of the Word of God. He lived the Word. He didn't just talk the talk, he walked the walk. God calls us to be a Light for Him to the people around us and to do so, we need to seek Him, know Him, know His Word, and live it out in our daily lives.