Noah, Nehemiah, or Nabal? Lessons on Engagement with the World

The American church — the real one that clings to the gospel — is wrestling with the current times as political turmoil encroaches on what were once apolitical, basic human activities: marriage, childbearing, choosing correctly between two restrooms.

Having withdrawn a century ago from most of the hospitals and higher education institutions they founded, the church finds itself increasingly handicapped to minister to the lost souls that might be reached through mind or body before their spirits awaken to Truth. Lacking the leverage that past generations had in good works, we believers may find social or political discourse an increasingly futile exercise.

We are tempted to wring our hands here and wonder what might be done. We might beg Jesus to come sooner and pine away for past decades that seemed simpler. We might check out of the fray altogether and focus on the activities of our own families, which are admittedly much more satisfying than arguing with implacable strangers.

Yet God calls us to boldness and risk for the sake of the gospel. I write to appeal to those of us tempted to withdraw to comfortable places. I consider myself among those so inclined. I’m not convinced that any of the weak-willed responses above are the right way. The preacher of Ecclesiastes warns: “Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this” (7:10). Nor should we try to escape the current conflicts: “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it” (8:8). We are further admonished: “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked” (Proverbs 26:26).

We must “do something,” and there is hope in truth-telling:

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’” (Ephesians 5:11-14).

Works of darkness, once exposed become part of God’s story (“anything that becomes visible is light”). Those who get in the fight reflect Christ’s glory (“awake, O sleeper . . . and Christ will shine on you”). Each generation has had its trials of mortal and immortal combat. As my friend John Ensor has put it, “It is simply our turn.”

No one can engage in every battle. We will not all be Wilberforces or Tubmans. How then, to prioritize our efforts? Let us consider how three biblical figures engaged — or didn’t — in the conflicts of their times.

Noah

Noah lived in times so desperately wicked that the Lord determined to wipe out everyone but Noah and his immediate family. It’s not clear whether Noah knew how small the final rescue total would be. In any case, Noah’s peculiar hobby — building a massive wooden boat nowhere near an ocean over a 100-year span — attracted plenty of scornful attention. He did not waste this opportunity; Peter called him a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). And it’s noteworthy that it was God, not Noah, who shut the ark’s door when it started to rain (Genesis 7:16).

We don’t have the text of what Noah said, but he provided his neighbors ample warning of the impending judgment. While he prioritized his own family’s safety, he wasn’t focused on them exclusively. He wasn’t content to “mind his own business” and leave his neighbors to drown without warning.

We should all aspire to be like Noah: distinguishable from the world, faithful to his God and family, and unafraid to engage his neighbors who were swept up in the violence, oppression, and immorality of the times.

Nehemiah

Nehemiah was a favored servant in the Persian court. He asked his pagan king for the opportunity to govern the impoverished and oppressed Jewish exiles who had returned to their homeland. Returning after 70 years immersed in a hostile culture, they had barely established a foothold in the ancient ruins in the 100 years or so since their return. They had re-established corporate worship a generation before, but remained the prey of the local warlords and roving gangs. Nehemiah recognized their need for physical protection, and following that, a restoration of their distinct national identity that had been rooted in their relationship to God.

He began by inspiring the Jewish survivors to take ownership of their problem and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:17-18). Just as Noah had been met with scorn for his efforts, Nehemiah was met with immediate mockery and slander from neighboring governors (2:19). This rapidly grew to threats of violence and attempted intrigue (4:8; chapter 6). He persevered and, by his strong example, led his ragtag team to finish the wall in 52 days.

Nehemiah also had to deal with cultural rot within his own community. He discovered the Jewish landlords were oppressing their countrymen with heavy-interest debts, and called them to account publicly (5:7). He re-instituted the Sabbath observance by brute force (13:21), and helped to expose the infidelity of many men in his community (13:23-27).

Here are some observations about Nehemiah I find intriguing in contrast to other leaders in the Bible.

• Nehemiah got no special revelation from God. His heart broke at the reports of the oppression of his people. He prayed and planned, then took action.
• We have no evidence that Nehemiah had special skills in military leadership or masonry construction. Yet he inspired those around him to build and provide armed security.
• Nehemiah had his own set of weaknesses. He was a dynamo of personal example and passion when on scene, but appears to have been unsuccessful in getting the next generation to adopt a passion for righteousness. Things fell apart when he was away (chapter 13).
• He lacked the absolute power of Israel’s monarchs from generations past; he was an agent of the Persian king. As such, like today’s politicians, he was more vulnerable to persecution, including from his own people. He chose to enter the arena and lead them anyway.

We should support our local and national Nehemiahs, those willing to wade into the cesspool of politics. They take the spears for us, enduring the mockery and threats that anyone pursuing righteousness in that environment will attract.

Those of us with leadership skills should also consider whether we should follow in Nehemiah’s footsteps and take action without a lightning bolt from God. Yes, our families are important. But will our children wonder someday why we lacked the courage to fight for what was right? Or will they come to believe that nothing outside of family is worth fighting for? What about all the other families that are being oppressed and impoverished by bad policies and capricious leaders?

Nabal

In contrast to the heroic figures above, Nabal engaged with no one but himself, and for nothing but his own pleasure and interest. He is best known for snubbing David while the latter fled from the persecution of King Saul (see 1 Samuel 25). His large estate of pasturelands lay in the mountains of south-central Israel, an area where David the fugitive and his band of 400 men (plus families) often took refuge. On this occasion, David’s men had protected Nabal’s estate from raids and theft, and David sought provisions from Nabal in return. Nabal brushed David off, and David nearly took his own lethal revenge before Nabal’s wife Abigail intervened. Shortly thereafter, God struck Nabal dead while he feasted in luxury.

Let us consider some context to discover what a self-centered fool Nabal had become.

• Israel was in a period of continuous war with the Philistines, a wealthy and militarily skillful people who occupied the western seaboard (1 Samuel 14:25). Both sides experienced victories and defeats on a fairly regular basis, and this war was unlimited in scope. Whichever side lost would become the slaves of the other.
• Israel’s western frontier was not secure, and the Philistines made frequent incursions to raid Israeli territory (1 Samuel 13:17; 23:27). This insecure frontier also provided refuge to bandits and other criminals who pillaged targets of opportunity.
• Nabal lived some distance from the Philistine frontier, but was still within reach of bandits and Philistine raiders. The protection that David’s men had provided was worthwhile (1 Samuel 25:15-16).
• Nabal had totally disengaged himself and his household from the ongoing war.

Nabal enjoyed the fruits of his labor under the protection of those he despised (25:11). His was a life of prosperous ingratitude toward God, and indifference toward the struggles of his countrymen.

Don’t be a Nabal.

Action

God laid out the path before us long ago:

“Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:37-38).

God calls us to a life of courage and risk.

• Let us follow Noah in a life distinguished by righteousness, family leadership, and bold engagement with those around us.
• Let us support the Nehemiahs around us who take many spears on our behalf. Let us not be too quick to dismiss whether social or political responsibility lies before us.
• Let us reject the hedonist life of prosperous isolation while others fight the battles for us.

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God” (Isaiah 50:10).

Help us walk with you, Lord God.

Quinn Skinner retired from the U.S. Navy after serving 26 years, having attained the rank of Captain. He currently works for a pregnancy help organization and is the board chairman for PassionLife (passionlife.org). The views of the author are his own and do not reflect those of his employer or any U.S. government entity.