Nehemiah 6:1-19
Please read your Bible text: Neh. 6:1-19
“I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (Neh. 6:3)
When the enemies saw Nehemiah’s rebuilding work was consistent and near completion, they wasted no time and came up with a classic plan, first to distract Nehemiah to a dialogue away from his safe zone. It was a plot to murder him. Failing which, they threatened to report him to the Persian King for treason. Besides, there were some false prophets within the Jewish community who were hired by Tobiah to mislead Nehemiah to succumb to fear and hence crippling the work of God. Nehemiah faced obstacles in his life and mission for the LORD. The obstacles came in the form of opposition from the enemies.
In life, we do face obstacles. Remember the old hymn which said, “God has not promised skies always blue; joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But God has promised, “Strength for the day, rest for the labour, light for the way, grace for the trials, and help from above.” Obstacles or oppositions are put in our ways to see what we want is really worth fighting for. They are there to test our resolute commitment.
Nehemiah had his fair share of obstacles, but his approach to all these obstacles was truly amazing and we can learn from him how he approached each of these obstacles which were the enemies’ target to intimidate and infused fear.
Stay Focus when the enemy distracts – vv.1-5
Nehemiah’s focus and concentration on completing the LORD’s work were so resolute that the enemies were afraid, so they schemed to distract him in the hope of stalling the work. They did so with a proposed dialogue for Nehemiah to compromise. The place for the dialogue was to be a place away from Nehemiah’s familiar safe community. Apparently, it was to be more than dialogue but also a plot to murder. It was a plan first to distract Nehemiah from God’s work with dialogue to compromise and if that failed, to totally eradicate the leader and builder—the man, Nehemiah. But Nehemiah was never to give in. He remained focus on the work God had commissioned him. Four times the enemies came with the same invitation and for each time Nehemiah’s reply was the same absolute focus. “I am doing a great job so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you” – v.6
The Devil cannot endure to see us so earnestly engaged in the Lord’s work and so he will often try to distract us with all sorts of hindrances and hostilities. We must learn to discern the spirits. Some dialogues to compromise are in good light to promote wholesomeness towards achievement with the same conviction. But if we are to bring an evil compromise into our camp, you bet the devil will change the ‘rule of the game’. Amid all the devil’s distractions, we must have but one duty to perform—to lose ourselves in the Lord’s work. If we are focused on seeing God’s business, He will see to our safety.
Stand Firm when the enemy falsely accused – vv.6-9
Having failed the fourth times to co-err Nehemiah out to talk, Sanballat accused Nehemiah with opened letter of sedition. Now the pressure was on Nehemiah, to succumb to compromise or to face the crime for treason which he never committed. Nehemiah stood firm and rejected Sanballat’s false accusation with these words—“no such things as you say are being done” (v.9). He also stood firm with a prayer that God would strengthen his hands for the ministry.
As leaders, we ought to know how to handle false accusations, vicious letters, unfounded reports and gossip. We can learn from Nehemiah never to engage in trying to defend ourselves against all these devilish weapons. Just simply reject it and stand firmly on our heart conviction. Otherwise, we may be distracted from the Lord’s work (and that is what the enemies wanted), spending so much time defending ourselves. Even worst, by defending ourselves we may be giving the devil more ground and weight to accuse us. Learn from Nehemiah to simply reject the report, pray for strength and returned to work.
Subdue Fear with Faith – vv.9-14
There were also many false prophets within Nehemiah’s community. Among them were Shemaiah and a prophetess named Noadiah. These prophets were hired by Tobiah to speak ill about the rebuilding work and ultimately to infuse fear on Nehemiah and his community. Nehemiah refused to follow Shemaiah’s prophecy to take refuge within the Holy Place in the temple to avoid being killed, for Shemaiah had prophesied about that the enemies were going to kill him. If Nehemiah had listened to this false prophet, he would have succumbed to fear and violated the Holy place. This would give the enemies’ ground for accusation. Running away and hiding in the temple would have ruined Nehemiah’s reputation as God’s leader. He would be seen as fearful and as a coward. Also, the very purpose of the open letter of accusation for treason (v.9), was to put fear on Nehemiah so that he could not finish the work.
Fear can cripple your ministry and even your life. We can, like Nehemiah subdue fear with faith. Refusing to be gripped by fear from the enemies’ constant intimidation Nehemiah kept his faith in God and prayed. He simply prayed, “My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophet who would have made me afraid”, (v.14). That’s faith! Simply ask and believe that God remembers! When you believe that God remembers the work of the enemies over you-it’s enough! He will surely remember to keep you safe.
Think: When fear comes, let your faith arise.
Prayer: Thank you, Father God, that you remember when men forget. The promise that you remember surely will calm the fear within me.
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