"Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what
they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the
prophets who have been trying to intimidate me." - Nehemiah 6:14
Nehemiah set out to rebuild the wall at Jerusalem that had been
destroyed. Nehemiah held a position in the Persian Empire that would be
comparable to Chief of Staff in our government. Nehemiah wept over the
destruction of the city wall and repented for the sins of his generation
and the generations before him that had led to the fall of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah responded to the news by seeking approval from his superior to
take time off to rebuild the wall. Tobiah and Sanballat met Nehemiah's
action with resistance, as did Noadiah the prophetess and other
prophets. These were the religious and political leaders of his day.
They became distractions to his work and opposed him.
Whenever God does a new work, it is often met with resistance by those
in the established religious community, and sometimes among those from
whom we would expect support. Jesus met the same resistance when He
began His public ministry. This same phenomenon happens today. When God
begins a new work that cannot be easily explained based upon prior
experiences, many make the mistake of assuming it not to be of God. The
very people who should embrace and encourage the work become the source
of skepticism and opposition. God tells us that His ways are not our
ways. He does things in ways beyond our limited understanding.
Before you are tempted to criticize or oppose something that looks
different from your past experience, ask God for wisdom and discernment.
Examine why you might be tempted to oppose it. The Lord cannot be put
in a box. He delights in doing things in ways that may not fit our
former paradigms.
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