“Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, ‘Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.’
But they intended to do me harm.”
Nehemiah 6:1-2 ESV
Last time we saw Nehemiah recounting the ways he’d laid aside his political rights as governor to not tax the already-burdened people. Today we get a glimpse of what happens when the wall rebuild nears completion.
“When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and the rest (yether – abundant, plentiful) of our enemies (oyeb – adversary) heard (shama – announce, proclaim, attentively) we had rebuilt the wall…”
Friend, if you have been obedient to what God has called you to do, perhaps at the same time not doing what others may want you to do, you can be guaranteed to have plentiful enemies. Not only other flesh and blood humans who may disagree, but evil in the spiritual realm who would rather see anything other than someone fully devoted to a God-given task.
When the Spirit moves and we join Him, it will be announced, proclaimed in the spiritual realm. Suddenly evil that seemed to have previously missed your home pulls up to your address. We can wonder why everything seems to be falling apart if we are doing God’s will. We must fix our eyes. Things will be shaken when the God of the Universe is on the move.
One thing that intimidates our enemy is the lack of gaps (perets – bursting forth, gap, breakthrough, mishap) in our rebuilding. As we walk closer and closer to Him, refusing to hold back sections of our heart or obedience in certain tasks, there are fewer and fewer breaches in our lives and work for evil to break through. Our walks become more airtight, our integrity in tact because of His grace upon us. And nothing could make the enemy of the Good more furious.
It’s interesting to me that Nehemiah points out here how he and the rebuilders had not yet set up the doors in the gates. The work remained unfinished yet the plentiful enemies were shaken. Feeling compelled to somehow stop the work.
If we keep in mind the battle is never ultimately against flesh and blood, we can move forward in conflict with confidence in His protection. Praying against powers and principalities in His authority, and loving and serving others in His Name. But that doesn’t mean we give up the work. What He’s given us to do will be done even if we don’t obey. But what a thrill we miss out on if we shrink back in fear or self-doubt or because of past failure. Fortunately, if that’s been our situation, we can start today – right now – asking for the faith to jump back in and join. He is worthy and His work in our lives fills us with purpose.
At this point, the human enemies of God’s work in Jerusalem sent word for Nehemiah to meet (yaad – appoint, assemble, summon) together (yachad – unitedness, one accord, unity) in a village on the plain. But Nehemiah knew they were scheming (chasab – calculate, devise, plot) to do (asah – accomplish) harm (ra – adversity, affliction, distress, grief, evil) to him.
Discernment is so crucial during our time here, isn’t it? Some situations might not even be in the categories of evil or enemy, but they may personally be an enemy to God’s best for our focus. And disappointing others doesn’t tend to be super popular. And then there are other times when what is requested seems to genuinely sound like a good thing. Something that would come under the category of best for our focus. After all, being united in one accord is our goal. And here is where we need to be diligent in discernment.
Nehemiah’s enemies wanted to get him alone on the open plain to take him out. Our enemy wants to do the very same thing. Anything that comes under the guise of unity but seeks to tear you away from trustworthy relationships will cause more divisiveness than unity. If seeking to be in one accord takes you out from under the protection of God’s flawless Word, such accord will fall out from under you. And if unity itself becomes more of a goal than relationship with and obedience to the Creator and Sustainer of Unity, it will become an idol that can take us out of the fight.
Yes, this is tricky. But that’s why the battle – and even the work – is not the main goal. Clinging to Jesus is. Only as we are can we move forward with clear eyes and a protected mind to accomplish the task He has set before us. Let’s close the gaps in our lives in which the enemy would seek to devour us. The places in our hearts we haven’t given over to Him to have authority. None of us are gap-less, but as we move forward with Him and each other, His Spirit brings together genuine unity in the work.
Let’s cling to Him, beg for discernment, and close the gaps together.