Most of us have, at one time or another, set out to accomplish a plan, and not too far down the road of progress, we often begin to face opposition. I am not talking about inclement weather when you plan to paint but something a little more challenging. The lack of cooperation from others can present an uphill climb that, for some of us, calls us to bail out before we even get started. Even greater than that, discouragement can come from an undermining spirit or ridicule from others. I played softball as a young girl. I absolutely hated the taunting of a batter as they stepped up to the plate, “Hey, batter ay batter.” The taunt is still as haunting as the roar in the arena at NCAA playoffs (that I love) when a player is at the foul line in foreign territory.
Sometimes discouragement runs deeper and more painful for folks than a chant from a less than an adoring fan. Teachers, mentors, parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, and church members have often been the source of cutting us to the quick about our attempts to accomplish a goal. The message can be something as simple as “Good luck, hope it all works out, ” to devastating words like, “that will never happen.” People abandon dreams, choose other vocations, and back away from relationships and ministries just from hearkening to the voice of discouragement. I know this, because I have succumbed to it a few times myself. Walking away and quitting always leaves a bad aftertaste. Thank the Lord that He is faithful and is able to heal both big and small wounds from such experiences and use them to draw us to him and often inspire others. But… I love when folks don’t quit, they keep on keeping on, and they overcome the opposition. They relish the taste of success rather than defeat and inspire others to do the same. The Bible is full of these accounts. We read of how God was with folks who faced opposition, and dealt with discouragement. Ultimately bringing honor to Himself and a sense of victory to those who depend on Him alone. Nehemiah was such a person as this.
In the 4th chapter of Nehemiah’s account, we find that the news of the reconstruction of the wall has begun to reach the ears of his enemies. Here is how this is recorded in the scriptures’ 4:1-3
When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore the wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those burned-out heaps of rubble? Tobiah, the Ammonite who was at his side, said, “What are they building? Even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”
This is an opposing chant at its most undermining best. By the way, now is a good time for me to acknowledge that this is a common effective way the enemy gains a foothold in the life of a believer.
The enemy, in this case, is Sanballat, a Samaritan politician. The opposition begins with a tone of ridicule. God will often use cautionary love about something we are attempting because He wants us to follow Him. He does not use fear or ridicule to shame us into changing direction. Next, we see that Sanballat attacks their identity itself as Jews. Gods chosen. As believers, we will face opposition many times simply based on our identity as a disciple of Christ. Jesus himself spoke of this many times in His teachings, warning the disciples and us that because we belong to Him, the opposition will be prevalent.
After this, Sanballat ridicules their goal of actually undertaking the reconstruction of the wall. This is often where many give in and doubt the dream. In my life, it often is phrased like this when the enemy whispers in my ear, “Is that even actually possible?”. Then Sanballat attacks the plan to accomplish it by asking if they will offer sacrifice. These words are meant to devalue the contribution the people themselves can make as they cooperate with the purpose of God, implying they will offer sacrifice in place of hard work itself or have to work-ship their way through. As the taunting progresses, Sanballat begins to attack any potential outcome and progress by reminding them how long the project will take. He finishes off by asking the rhetorical question: can a dead pile of rubble be brought back to life? The enemy will always bring a sense of hopelessness to any task God calls us to, telling us it just simply is not possible. And He raises doubt, But God’s true word reminds us, With God, all things are possible. Without God, Noah could not have built an ark or corralled 2 of every species aboard it. The horse and the rider would not have been thrown into the sea when Moses led across it. Without God, King David and all the Israelite army would not have been victorious, and two loaves and five fish would not have fed the 5,000 and their plus one when Andrew found the boy and his lunch.
Added to this, every good bully needs a sidekick, right? Tobiah, who is always at Sanballats side, doesn’t ridicule the undertaking, the faith, the commitment, but the quality of the work by implying a small fox could bring it down. If ever you have spoken a devotional, written a lesson, sung a song, played an instrument, or started a small group, you can relate. Because the enemy will always attack our abilities and the quality of talent by reminding us it just isn’t good enough. Sometimes it is a bigger challenge like taking a new job or making a move.
When God began to stir in our hearts about the move to South Carolina, many of Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s terms and questions resonated. The wrestling question of, is this what God really wanted? Could we even find jobs and start over in our late 40s? Why would God lead us away from our native home when we both had good jobs and ministries? He was blessing us? But God kept reassuring us, reminding us the only permanent assignment is Heaven for His followers, and if we followed Him, He would make the way. God’s word and prayer would be the network where God would send His encouragement and peace to help us complete our tasks.
Nehemiah prays in verse 4: “Hear us, our God, for we are despised” and asks God to turn the opposer’s insults back on their own heads. As a result of facing the opposition with God aiding them, it is recorded that they rebuilt the wall until half of its height had been reached(about 15 ft) because the people worked with all their hearts. I love the mere will of the human heart surrendering itself to the will of God and His purpose. All of us love when the bullies are silenced, and the weak prevail. This is how God wants to and does work in our lives if we commit to Him. Nehemiah was all in and able to inspire his people to do the same. It is hard in this life to be mocked, undermined, and discouraged but it is so empowering and encouraging to remember that the scriptures remind us. If God is for us, then who can be against us? Romans 8:31)
Today, I face a few challenges myself. I hear discouraging words from sources that remind me that no matter how much money I can save, will it really be enough to last through retirement? Can I continue to reach out and touch folks with hand and heart the way the gospel calls me to in the face of a pandemic while many warn us that we must isolate ourselves to ensure our health? Can I be purposeful and useful despite my age in a world that worships youthfulness and seems to have lost respect for experience and wisdom? By the way, that just doesn’t happen in the circles outside the faith family. Christ himself, the son of God, most beloved and the pride of Heaven, faced scorners and mockers, persecution and opposition as He came to fulfill and finish the plan of salvation for us all. He identifies and sympathizes with our struggles as the world taunts us on every hand. His prayer of mercy on the cross over all who participated is a reminder that if not for grace, we ourselves would be opposers of God.
Lord, it seems that every time I come up to bat in life, I hear the chanting of the enemy. Renew my passion for the purpose that you have called me to, and let my mind and my heart be lifted up. Let your words of encouragement silence the insults of my opposers, and may I be deaf to them; instead, reconstruct my hearing until all I hear is your still, small voice. Jesus let me continue to work like the builders on the wall… let me work for you with all my heart.
Come back next time when the 5 o’clock worker learns that to finish the job, adapting to a different strategy will be called for in “Standing Guard” as the series in Nehemiah continues “Under Reconstruction.”
5oclockworker.com 