Building While They Watch

"So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime." Judges 6:27 NIV

In Part 2 of this series, "Remembering While I Doubt", I shared how remembering past blessings kept me strong, like how water would keep us refreshed on a hot day. So while challenges may not have gone away, I kept focused on my goals remembering Gideon's encouragement when he was told to "Go in the strength you have..." Judges 6:14 NIV

I grew up hearing the following popular Jamaican proverb "Nuh mek yuh lef han know weh yuh right han a do." Literally in English it is saying that you should not let your left hand know what the right hand is doing. What I was taught this meant is that you should avoid broadcasting your plans and goals to everyone for many reasons. Sometimes you may attract jealous persons what we would call "bad mind" or if there was a circumstance that prevented you from completing the task you will now have to go around and tell all the 100 persons you broadcast to that you were going to another country for your vacation. So it is best to let them find out when it does happen.

Interestingly Gideon understood the wisdom of this Jamaican proverb and while he was also inspired by fear to some degree I believe there was also some wisdom in his decision to tear down the altar to Baal and instead to build or restore the altar to God.

"'Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height'...But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar! They asked each other, 'Who did this?'...they were told, 'Gideon son of Joash did it.' The people of the town demanded of Joash, 'Bring out your son. He must die'...But Joash replied...'Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him?...If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.'” Judges 6:25-31 NIV

I have had my equivalent to tearing down Baal's altar at night. All the doubt I struggled with being unable to secure a job, fighting the negative thoughts of being rejected by many recruiters, the feeling of worthlessness. I trusted God to be with me as I tore down the altars of fear and doubt and at night began building and in the "morning" the "town" saw the result of my work by night, my work in silence, hiding while I build, first out of fear but later inspired by wisdom.

There are times when we broadcast our dreams and aspirations and the world and those close to us tell us that our dreams are too big, preventing us from realizing our goals and this was what Gideon also understood. If he had attempted tearing down Baal's altar during the day he would likely have met a much stronger resistance. They would still see the outcome so he was being more wise than fearful.

"...So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, 'Let Baal contend with him.'" Judges 6:32 NIV

My "morning" started with my brand, its website, my first security plugin and client, the moment my private practice like Gideon became public knowledge. When the people of the town learnt that Gideon tore down Baal's altar, they demanded his death. They were in disbelief, and it has been similar for me. There have been some who doubt what I have achieved and then some who would desire to take my ideas and approach as their own.

God has been my defence against all the negativity aimed at my efforts, and I now strive to keep my mind focused on doing and not worrying about what others try to do.

Like Gideon becoming Jerub-Baal, my building in public means I will also be named by what I build: Masada Hardening.

"...If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand..." Judges 6:36-37 NIV

I resumed running last week, for just one day, going much slower than usual but I am still on my return journey and my slow pace is just me starting to move forward. When I was preparing for the half marathon where I ran my PR, my fleece request to God was my health and running improvement. While running I still kept asking God for reassurance that I was on the right path. This year my request is for another PR in November 2026 and not only for that goal, but for building my way out of unemployment. Even now, with my work in the open, I am still asking.

"Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: 'Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.'" Nehemiah 6:2 NIV

Sanballat did not come to the wall. He stayed away, on the plain, and sent messages asking Nehemiah to come down and meet him. That is how it works. The distraction does not come to where you are building. It asks you to leave. Nehemiah did not argue with him. He gave his answer to the messengers and kept working, and when the same message came a fourth time he gave the same answer he gave the first time.

I have had to learn this important lesson. Not every comment is worth my response and not every doubt about my goals and destination is mine to resolve.

Nehemiah's builders worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. I build towards my dreams and I defend against the critics, and most weeks those are the same day.

Like Gideon, what is the altar you had to tear down before you could build a better one? I've had friends who mocked me when I decided to live a better life.

I will close off with another Jamaican proverb that says "Nuh listen to di noise ah di market, just look fi yuh correct change." In English that means that you should not pay attention to the distractions or negative criticism, just keep your eyes focused on your goal or calling.

I am determined to not allow circumstances or others to distract me from my goals and dreams.

"'I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?' Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer." Nehemiah 6:3-4 NIV