Nehemiah 2:6-10: a reflection

6The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him. 7Moreover I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah; 8and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I will occupy.” The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me. 9Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

As Nehemiah prepares to go and rebuild Jerusalem, he asks the king for letters of safe passage and timber for the work, and the king grants all his requests. But notice how Nehemiah accounts for this success: The king granted my requests, he says, because the good hand of my God was upon me. He does not credit his own persuasiveness, or the king's goodwill, or his careful planning, but the good hand of God, at work behind the favorable outcome. He saw God's hand in his success.

Notice to what Nehemiah attributes his success: the good hand of God upon him. He had planned carefully and asked wisely; but he did not credit his own skill or the king's favor for the outcome. He saw, behind it all, the good hand of God, moving the king, granting the requests, prospering the work. His success, he understood, was God's doing, God's hand upon him for good.

That is a wise and grateful way to see our own successes. When things go well for us, when our efforts prosper, when we receive favor or a good outcome, the temptation is to credit our own skill, our persuasiveness, our planning, or simply good luck. Nehemiah saw further: the good hand of God upon him. Learn to see God's hand behind your successes and the favor you receive. When your efforts prosper, do not credit only yourself or circumstances; recognize the good hand of God at work, and give him the thanks. Behind every success and favor is his hand; see it, and be grateful, saying with Nehemiah, the good hand of my God was upon me.

Lord, when the king granted Nehemiah's requests, Nehemiah credited not his own persuasiveness or planning, but the good hand of his God upon him. Teach me to see your hand that way. When things go well for me, when my efforts prosper or I receive favor, I am tempted to credit my own skill, my planning, or good luck. Help me see further, as Nehemiah did: the good hand of God at work behind the favorable outcome. Teach me to recognize your hand behind my successes and the favor I receive, and to give you the thanks. When my efforts prosper, keep me from crediting only myself or circumstances; help me see your good hand at work, and be grateful. Behind every success and favor is your hand; help me see it, and say with Nehemiah, the good hand of my God was upon me.