Neh 2:8  because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

                 

Another way of expressing this verse might be, because I had been drawn into God's purposes and was doing His will, His hand was upon me, changing the circumstances for good, especially when it came to the king's attitude towards me. It's quite a lovely picture: Nehemiah moving in the knowledge that he was moving according to the prompting of God and God therefore changing people's hearts towards him, to enable him to move ahead in the plan of God. Isn't that how it's supposed to be for each of us, every day?

 

Joseph is the classic illustration of this in the Old Testament as we see: “When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,” (Gen 39:3). Daniel was similarly known to be a man who had God with him. What is interesting about Nehemiah, Joseph and Daniel, is that they were all God's men living in very ungodly situations, yet God was there for them, making them stand out.

 

Isn't that Jesus wants for us when he said, “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,” (Mt 5:16). With God's hand upon us, His grace in us, and His power flowing through us, we too become those who stand out in the world and bear testimony to His love and goodness. May it be so.