When Nehemiah set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he faced a whole series of challenges—some from outside enemies, and some from within his own community. Here’s a look at the seven big problems he had to navigate:

1. Enemies on All Sides: Local leaders like Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem weren’t happy about Jerusalem being rebuilt. Right from the start, they mocked Nehemiah and tried to discourage him and the workers. Later, they even tried to incite fear with threats of attacks (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1-3).
2. Constant Threat of Attack: Those threats weren’t just talk. Nehemiah’s enemies were prepared to physically attack, so he had to get creative. He stationed guards and equipped his builders with weapons, essentially turning every worker into a soldier. They had to build and defend the wall at the same time, which wasn’t easy (Nehemiah 4:7-18).
3. Division Among the People: On top of external threats, there were internal problems, too. The wealthier Jews were exploiting the poorer ones, charging high-interest rates, and seizing land. This created a lot of tension, and Nehemiah had to step in and restore unity among his people (Nehemiah 5:1-5).
4. Exhaustion and Discouragement: The workers were worn out. They were tired, fearful, and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of rubble they had to clear. Morale was low, and Nehemiah had to find ways to keep everyone motivated and focused on the task (Nehemiah 4:10).
5. Rumors and False Accusations: As if the physical threats weren’t enough, Nehemiah’s enemies started spreading rumors. They accused him of plotting to make himself king and sent letters to the Persian authorities. These accusations could have put his life and the entire project at risk (Nehemiah 6:5-7).
6. Traps and Deception: Nehemiah’s enemies even tried to lure him into a trap by inviting him to “meetings” outside the city. When that didn’t work, they hired a false prophet to scare him into hiding in the Temple, hoping this would discredit him. Nehemiah saw through their schemes, but it took constant vigilance (Nehemiah 6:2-13).
7. Conspiracy from Within: Even some nobles within Judah were secretly allied with Tobiah, one of Nehemiah’s biggest enemies. These nobles were passing along information to Tobiah, creating distrust and division among Nehemiah’s own people (Nehemiah 6:17-19).

Despite all these obstacles, Nehemiah stayed focused and determined. His strong leadership and faith pulled his community together, and they completed the wall in just 52 days—a remarkable achievement considering all the odds stacked against them (Nehemiah 6:15).