Today's passage is Nehemia 2:1-10. The year after Nehemiah hears the news about Jerusalem, he appears so sad one day in serving the king that the king asks he can help, Nehemiah makes a silent prayer, tells the king who says Nehemiah can go and do some construction in Jerusalem.
When he arrives he finds opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah.
When I went to schoo today for yet another meeting over the case of the expelled boy, I expected further opposition from my vice principal and executive officer.
I thought I was Nehemiah and they were Sanballat and Tobiah. I had prayed, I knew what was the right thing to do--allow the boy to return to school on probation and with certain restrictions, such as ongoing psychological counselling.
God had a surprise for me. It turned out that I was Sanballat and Tobiah!
My vice principal couldn't come to another meeting because she had to take her mother to the hospital for an operation on her broken wrist.
As she departed, our ceremonial Headmaster arrived, an older woman of some experience.
The school owner came to greet the Headmaster, who attends our big functions like graduation.
We went over the circumstances of the boy's misbehavior and expulsion.
I confessed my extreme dislike of the boy and the degree of anger I felt towards him when I made the decision to expel him.
I confessed my repentance and my desire to reverse my original decision because, after much prayer and fasting, I knew I was wrong and that the boy needed love and help not anger and punishment, which he got plenty of at home.
The school owner said that he thought expelling the boy was too harsh but that he hadn't interfered with my decision because I was the principal.
The Headmaster was entirely of my opinion and feelings and said I needed to reverse my decision even though it might appear to be an initial loss of face.
The executive officer said she felt it was her duty to support me and my decisions.
My hatred and anger towards the boy had made me into Sanblatt and Tobiah. The owner and headmaster were like the king.
God removed my vice principal so I could receive the wisdom I might have had in the first place if I had shown less anger and more love.
I feel sorry for my vice principal who suddenly finds herself in lonely opposition to what I believe God wants me to do for the salvation of this boy.
Tomorrow I will need God's grace to deal with her to help her accept what we must do.
