"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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