My brother and I stayed with our grandparents at times when we were kids. One morning my grandma told us that if we walked with her to the store she would buy us a “straw hat.” (Side note—I never saw either of my two grandmothers drive. They walked places or rode with others. I was surprised later in life to meet grandmas who operated motor vehicles).

Thinking a “straw hat” sounded pretty dumb, I decided to stay at the house. When my brother returned a couple hours later sporting a shiny new straw cowboy hat, I flipped out. “Grandma, can I get a hat?” Nope—I didn’t help at the store, so I missed out on a hat. Tough love from the G-ma.

A huge construction project took place with the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Citizens of every rank and profession pitched in. They hoisted chunks of stone and carried swords due to threats from enemies. Folks cooked meals while children scanned the horizon. It was a glorious community effort.

Except for a few holdouts.

Nehemiah described section after section of wall and the cadre of citizens who did the repairs. In the list he mentions a handful of aristocrats: The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

Why did these nobles refuse to help? What stuck in their craw? Were they too proud to stoop to manual labor, or unwilling to work alongside social inferiors? More likely, these men were enmeshed with the local powers-that-be, and the wall jeopardized their economic prospects. The status quo enriched them. They secretly hoped for the project to fail.

Despite their lack of participation, the wall rose and their power fell. These blue bloods missed out on the greatest undertaking of their generation. They missed out on friendships formed in adversity, and they missed out on stories to pass on to their grandchildren.

Don’t miss out. Don’t let pride or fear or social status or desire for financial gain keep you from joining God’s people. Find a place to serve and put your shoulder to the work.

Nehemiah 3 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Megan Bucknall

I read somewhere once a phrase that rings true in my experience—beware the wrath of a patient man.

Patient people maintain composure in difficult circumstances. They bear with others who make foolish mistakes and ignore sound instructions. Long-suffering, the patient among us absorb personal slights and even insults, hoping to develop maturity in those they encounter.

But every person breaks at some point, the patient often with spectacular results.

In Revelation, John wrote of an impending time of judgment. These days will involve the death of a quarter of the earth’s population by sword, famine, plague and even wild beasts. The cause of this holy terror?

The Lamb of God.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

Having strolled through a few petting zoos, it’s hard to picture a wrathful lamb. But He’s coming. When Jesus arrived the first time, many were confused. But Jesus will arrive the second time with absolute clarity. We will either fall in worship, or flee for the hills.

Indeed, beware the wrath of a patient man. But even more so, beware the wrath of a patient Savior.

Revelation 6 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Rod Long

Salt emerged as a valuable commodity across the ancient world. Kings maintained a monopoly on salt and exacted great profits on its sale and distribution. The English word salary is derived from the Latin salarium, the ration of salt given to soldiers as part of their pay. From this practice sprang our modern expression describing a lazy worker as not worth his salt.

King Artaxerxes bestowed a highly valuable gift on Ezra and his band who attempted to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you—up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit.

Salt without limit, along with the other supplies, were to be delivered without delay. Such gifts underscored the serious intention of the king.

The generosity of a pagan king toward the rebuilding of a temple reminds me of the lavish ways the Lord treats us. Artaxerxes possessed vast resources which he shared with Ezra. The Lord possesses far more, and opens his hands with greater magnanimity. I must remember to ask, and to remain ever grateful for the gifts of salt without limit in my life.

Ezra 7 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Faran Raufi

Few of us will ever confront an edict from the government calling for our destruction, but that’s what Queen Esther faced. Falsely accused, a jealous official conned the king into a genocide over his wounded pride. Despite the foolishness, troops were mustered and knives sharpened.

Her uncle Mordecai urged her to go to the king and beg to have the order rescinded. He told her, Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Esther feared for her life. She knew her husband to be a capricious leader, erratic and easily swayed by his moods. If she approached him at the wrong time he might banish her or worse, put her to death.

Under severe distress, Esther asked Mordecai and her fellow Jewish citizens to fast for three days and told him, When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.

A young, inexperienced woman thrust into extraordinary circumstances made one of the bravest decisions recorded in the Bible. Esther fasted and prayed—giving herself to the Lord—resolved to follow though on what she determined she must do.

What decisions do you and I face that require bravery? Maybe at work when we’re called to compromise? It might be with family or friends where we know a hard conversation should happen, but we remain silent. Or even in our communities or schools, speaking into the difficult social issues affecting our children?

We all face daunting choices at times. Esther’s model of decision-making proves helpful for me. Fast, pray, and seek the Lord. Allow God and his words to guide my response and stiffen my resolve. Then step forward, and if I perish professionally, relationally, or socially, I perish.

Fight the good fight, and keep the faith.

Esther 4 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Dave Lowe