Day 8
But when
Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it
displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people
of Israel.
Nehemiah
2:10
Selfishness
is one of the most natural human expressions. When we are successful, or it
seems God has His hand upon us, we can expect that there are some who will
respond negatively. In the same way, we must check ourselves to make sure we
are not responding negatively when God uses or blesses others.
Nehemiah
experiences this truth in a huge way. Sanballat and Tobiah, both political leaders
in the area of Jerusalem, where not pleased that he had come to help the city
of Jerusalem. It served the two of them well that Jerusalem lie in ruins and
that the people of the city were basically forgotten. Nehemiah’s reconstruction
project did not fit with their program.
It
would be one thing if these two opposed Nehemiah once and then went on their
way. However, they become a constant agitation to him. Nehemiah’s response to
them, and his handling of them, becomes a guide book for us in dealing with
opposition and insults.
At
times, Nehemiah ignores them. At times, he rebukes them. At other times he
challenges them. He often prays about them. But, he never allows them to stop
him from doing what God has called him to do. He constantly keeps their threats
and insults in perspective, knowing that God possesses more power than they do.
When
we set out to do what God has called us to do, we can expect that others will
oppose us, insult us, twist our motives, and spread all sorts of untruths about
us. I only pray that we would handle in like Nehemiah – with prayer,
perspective, and perseverance.
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