Jewishness level: Terrorism

Nehemiah is the one who was cup-bearer to an alien king, while in exile from the land of Israel. He sought, and was granted, permission to go back to Israel to help the straggling, scattered few who were returning to Jerusalem - in rebuilding the wall. Till this point - Chapter 13 - he seems to be a fantastic Jewish hero. He's beaten the odds, prayed to His God, and raised up the walls around Jerusalem - all signs of an Israeli hero. So, it comes as a shock to see him beating, tearing out hair and basically forcing people into marriage - something that we frown upon very nastily today.

We can blame it on the culture of the day, but consider this. Nehemiah was doing what he thought was right, as ordered by his religious law and his God. He was hurting other people for it. Take into consideration now, the fact that a few chapters earlier, he had ordered his Israeli people to rebuild the wall with a sword in one hand and the rebuilding tools in the other hand - since they were under threat by the infamous, non-Jewish Sanballat and Tobiah. To me, living in the 21st century, this sounds like a terrorist or a zealot. Someone who so keenly follows what he thinks his religious law says, to the detriment of others.

Jesus completely turns such thinking around, right? Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. God sees the inside, man sees the outside. And so on.

Basically, the point is this - the Bible is a fantastic book. But it is a fantastic book about Cracked Pots. Just like you and me. And God still uses such cracked pots to bring his purposes to fruition.