Two rebel leaders (Sanballat and Tobiah) wanted to stop Nehemiah from repairing the wall of Jerusalem, but they failed. The enemies ridiculed Nehemiah and his team as they made some efforts to rebuild the City of God. The scripture reported the attacks from Sanballat and Tobiah, “But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said,
“What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall” (Nehemiah 4:1-3). Nehemiah and his men were determined to shun opposition and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. They prayed against their enemies, and also stood up to defend themselves. Nehemiah and his men prayed and said, “Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have provoked you to anger before the builders… Therefore I (Nehemiah) positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (Nehemiah 4:4-5; Nehemiah 4:13-14).
Lesson:
Christian opposition like Sanballat and Tobiah sometimes come around to frustrate the efforts of God’s children. They may mount physical or spiritual opposition, but their ultimate goal is to make God’s children compromise their stand with God. These enemies do not encourage good adventures. Therefore, children of God must be sensitive not to allow the enemies to fulfill their mission. Believers must be sensitive to identify the scheme of the enemies and stop them. We must make significant efforts through prayer and fasting to stop our opponents. We must also not hesitate to take any physical action that is necessary to stop the enemies. More importantly, believers must have confidence in God. We must have an assurance that God is ever able to help us overcome our foes!
Prayer:
Dear God, please frustrate the enemy that may want to stop me in my effort to serve you. Let the generation of Sanballat and Tobiah be defeated in my life! I receive your grace to remain confident – so that I can continue to serve you in Spirit and in truth. Please always let your testimony ever abide in my life. For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
