Nehemiah 6-7
Posted:  October 4, 2014


This reading is a clear example of how leaders are attacked when working for the Lord.   First, the opposition tries to get you "off focus" by asking you to a meeting.   Think about it.  No meeting is required.  We are building a wall, we have all the help we need, and every hand is needed.   having the leader wander off to a meeting with the opposition sends a wrong message. 1.  the leader isn't working as well "lead by example", and 2.  The leader is favorably disposed toward the opposition.

The second wave of resistance is the threatening letters.  Fear mongering.   "The king will hear that you are trying to make yourself into a king and he will come and destroy you".    Again, think about it.   Nehemiah is cupbearer to the king, and has letters from the king giving him authority to rebuild.   The person who has the most to lose is Sanballat, who will lose influence and power if the Jewish people are called to support Jerusalem, and not his interests.    The letter is unsealed, so that others may read it along the way, and start their own rumors.

Third wave.  Since the other attacks haven't worked very well, Sanballat starts talking to people he knows that are inside the city.  In fact, he has probably been talking to them all along.  Many of these people are beholden to Sanballat.  As a key leader in the area, the nobles and others would have aligned themselves with him.  It seems that he is part of the "upper crust" of society in this area.   So Sanballat has these friends of his go and tell Nehemiah what a good guy he is.  He has one friend try and get Nehemiah to go into hiding.  (that would diminish his leadership influence, as well as be illegal by religious law.   Nehemiah isn't allowed inside the inner temple...only priests).   These same friends report back to Sanballat everything the Nehemiah says.   They are almost like enemy spies inside the camp.    The difference is, they don't intend evil, they are just so easily manipulated that they do whatever is suggested.

Fourth wave.   The prophets and wise men forcast and prophecy doom for the project.   "God has not spoken" they cry out.  "This project will end in failure and bloodshed....and you will be made a laughingstock".       To be sure, I cannot say that the four things happen in exactly this order, but they all happen.  Perhaps overlapping, etc.

Here's the point:   If you set out to do something for the Lord, to be obedient to whatever He has asked you to do...you will experience opposition.  The greater the task, the more forceful the opposition.   People will call your decision into question, they will try and make you afraid, they will use their friends as double agents to try and get to you.  They will make phone calls and have conversations behind your back that are unflattering about your ability and capability.

Some of your friends will fall away because of your decision.   Some who promised they could be relied upon will desert you.   There will be lonely days, and perhaps sleepless nights.   But there will also be inexpressible joy and a sense of fulfillment that cannot be fully described by my limited vocabulary.    You will have a sense of satisfaction that outweighs the soreness of muscles and the sting of losing a friend.

So I say to you:   Go and do what God has called you to do.   Who cares what the resistance thinks?  So what if you lose a friend along the way.  Do it anyway.   Maybe you will be sore.  Maybe you won't survive the effort....do it anyway.  Better to die in service to God than to be sitting idly by while others are doing accomplishing great things.     Maybe it will add stress to your life.   So what.   Learn to deal with it.  

One more thing.   Learn not to hate the people who are less committed than you.  Don't take revenge upon those who oppose you.  Leave that to God, He can work that out.    As for the people who are supposed to have your back, who continually let you down, or seem to work against you.   Determine if they are really being intentionally malicious in their efforts...and if they aren't then love them anyway.   They don't have the benefit of the vision and passion that you do.  They don't see the work the way you do, and they don't burn with a desire to see it fulfilled like you do.    They will need your constant cheering and instruction in order to stay the course.    So cheer them on, and don't resent them.   If they are still clinging to relationships that are harmful to them, or to the mission; show them a better way and encourage them to grow with you.

If they are deliberately trying to derail the project, and aren't willing to change, don't be afraid to send them out the door.   Sure, you may lose them and the people who support them, but you won't lose the blessing of God, who called you to the project in the first place.   Don't be cruel, but be firm.

One more thing.   Follow Nehemiah's example and work in full view of everyone.  Don't hoard resources to yourself while others have little.  And don't go into hiding and set a bad example.  As the Lord said to Joshua before he sent him off on his mission to conquer the promised land..."be bold and courageous".


PR