Building together
by Max Sahl
CEO Wycliffe Australia
The prophet Nehemiah once made a bold approach to King Artaxerxes I:
If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it. – Nehemiah 2:17 (NIV)
Jerusalem had been completely destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar II during the Babylonian conquest of 587BC, and it grieved Nehemiah’s heart. He felt called to rebuild the city but knew that the task was too large to take on alone. So Nehemiah gathered a team of people with different skills and experience to use their unique talents to serve the Lord.
A number of priests and carpenters went to work on rebuilding the gates. There were also goldsmiths whose skilled craftsmanship was required for the ornate details in the temple. Even perfumers were called upon to use their expertise to crush and mix materials in the construction of the new walls. When the work came under attack by their enemies, Nehemiah also gathered soldiers to defend the work. Many Jewish citizens were involved in the rebuilding efforts. Along with trusting in the Lord to help them, they recognised the need to work together.
Bible translation is also like a building project. It takes much more than Bible translators to keep the work running. The stories in this edition of Wycliffe Today show just how important each role is in building God’s kingdom. Discover how a paramedic, optometrist, pilot, nurse, Indigenous administrator, construction worker and teacher are all using their skills in the ministry of Bible translation. What could you do?
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