Wednesday
What a bunch of big bullies we hear from today.
Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem are the leaders or at least the most outspoken of Nehemiah and the Jewish people’s enemies. They continue to find ways to harass Nehemiah and when those methods fail, they try to lure Nehemiah out to one of the villages on the plain of Ono. (I know there is nothing about that name, but the irony just jumps out at me.) Nehemiah is too shrewd to allow himself to be put into a dangerous situation and so he implies that he is needed where he is in order for the work to continue.
Sanballat sends a message claiming that reports have been made that Nehemiah and the Jews inted to rebel against Artaxerxes and he also goes on to accuse Nehemiah of wanting to become king of Judah. Nehemiah knows that it would be too easy for Sanballat to ambush him and have him killed. Nehemiah responds to these allegations by saying that Sanballat has made these things up in his own mind. Nehemiah, once again, goes to God in prayer.
Shemaiah is sent by Tobiah and Sanballat to set up Nehemiah, but once again Nehemiah sees through the plot to kill him and refuses to go along with their plans.
How easily we can become discouraged if we allow people or situations to keep us from doing what we believe God wants us to do. It is at times like these, when we need to remember, just like Nehemiah did, where our help comes from. We need to stand strong with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to know that if it is God’s will, nothing will get in our way. Yes, we could very well have opposition, but the outcome of being obedient to God goes way beyond the momentary struggles we face today. James 1:2-4 tells us to, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Trials and struggles will help us to become stronger and more mature in our faith.
Did you notice that in our reading, despite all the opposition, the wall was completed in 52 days! This is an incredible accomplishment under even the best of circumstances. Nehemiah’s enemies and all the neighboring nations recognize the achievement is extraordinary and they are afraid.
Blessings on the day
Pastor Kathy