In our study of Nehemiah chapter six, we look at two of the tactics that the enemy tried to use against the man of God. We will be inspired as we see that he stood strong in the face of the enemy because of his faith in God.
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When it was reported to Sanvalat, Toviyah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and that not a single gap was left in it â although up to that time I hadnât yet set up the doors in the gateways â
Nehemiah was a man of honesty and we see here that he comes up against rumors and lies. The enemies heard that the walls around Jerusalem were done but he says that, in fact, they were not as the gates did not have doors to keep people out. Lies and rumors are a favorite tactic of the devil as we know that he is the father of lies.
Sanvalat and Geshem sent me a message which said, âCome, letâs meet together in one of the villages of the Ono Valley.â But they were planning to do me harm;
If you can't beat them then join them is the deception that is tried now. The enemy believes that the walls are done so they cannot defeat Israel. They try to make a phony peace deal but Nehemiah knew what they were up to. This reminds me of the same tactic used by the antichrist in Revelation 13 and it is even happening today with peace negotiations between Palestinians and the nation of Israel. We must remember that, without Jesus who is the Prince of Peace, it is not possible to have peace.
so I sent them messengers with this message: âIâm too busy with important work to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?â
Nehemiah's reply to this fake peace was I am busy with God's work. As was the case here, many times the devil will try to disrupt the kingdom work with distractions. That is why it is so important for us to be focused on God and listening to His Spirit.
They kept sending this sort of message to me â four times â and I answered them the same way.
Wouldn't it be nice if the devil simply gave up? We remember that, throughout the Bible, the number four is associated with trials and testing. Nehemiah resisted the temptation to compromise four times by giving the same answer each time. We can take comfort in the fact that, no matter how many times Satan comes after us, he can be told no and to leave each time.
The fifth time, with the same purpose, Sanvalat sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand, in which was written: âIt is reported among the nations, and Geshem says it too, that you and the Judeans are planning a revolt, that this is why you are rebuilding the wall, and that you intend to be their king,â and similar words; âmoreover, that you have also appointed prophets to proclaim about you in Yerushalayim, âThere is a king in Yâhudah!â A report along these lines is now going to be made to the king. Come now, therefore, and letâs discuss this.â
The enemy could not get Nehemiah to compromise so, on the fifth try, they used gossip and threats. Basically, they were saying that Nehemiah was going to be the king of Judah as they were going to rebel against King Artaxerxes. Sanballat basically said that he was going to pass on the lies unless he agreed to meet and compromise. The penalty for rebellion against the king would have been death so Nehemiah was really putting his life on the line here.
I sent him this answer; âNothing like what you are saying is being done. Youâre making it all up in your head.â
Nehemiah recognized this attack for what it was and was not intimidated. His reply was basically I know you are a liar. Our reaction to the lies and tactics of Satan should be the same as we simply stand on the truth of God.
They were all just trying to scare us, thinking, âThis will sap their strength and keep them from working.â But now, [God,] increase my strength!
In the face of intimidation, Nehemiah prayed for strength from God. Prayer puts us in step with God's will and allows us access to His power. Because of that fact, we do not have to fear anyone or anything on this earth.
One day, when I went to the house of Shâmaâyah the son of Dâlayah, the son of Mâheitavâel, where he was confined, he said, âLetâs meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and letâs shut the doors of the temple. For they are going to come and try to assassinate you; yes, they will come at night to kill you.â
Nehemiah went to a friend's house and the friend suggested that he go and hide in the temple. The man was afraid for himself as he was "shut in at his home" and he also feared that they were going to kill Nehemiah. Nehemiah understood that fear of anything or anyone (except God) did not come from God and so he recognized it as the work of the devil. We, too, must recognize that fact and find our strength in Jesus Christ.
I replied, âShould a man like me run away? Can a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I refuse to go in.â
Nehemiah refused to give in to the fear tactics of the devil. By faith, he stood on what God had told him and he trusted God to protect him as he did God's work. We can and should be just as solid in our trust of God as the God that we serve is the same now as He was back in these days.
Then I realized that God had not sent him, that he was making this prophecy against me, and that Toviyah and Sanvalat had bribed him to say it.
Nehemiah realized that what Shemaiah had said was not from God as he recognized the spirit of fear which is not of God. He knew that the man was hired and being used by the enemy. The same type of thing is common when you are walking with Christ as many times the devil will use others to attack you in hopes that you will not recognize his work. We, too, need to test the spirits just as John said (see 1 John 4).
He had been hired to frighten me into following his suggestion and thus sin, so that they would have material for their unfavorable report about me and could taunt me with it.
The devil's goals in this attack on Nehemiah was to stop the work of God and to discredit His servant. Nehemiah realized that it would be a sin for him to fear anyone or anything but God. He also understood that it would ruin his reputation and witness as a man of God. Satan has not changed his tactics so, if you are a faithful servant of God, you should expect the same kind of attack. When you face intimidation and fear, stand firm in the armor of God and remember that one of the names of God is El Hanne'eman (faithful).
My God, remember Toviyah and Sanvalat according to their deeds, also the prophet Noâadyah and the other prophets trying to intimidate me.
Nehemiah turns the people that have been attacking him over to God who is the avenger. A simple prayer for God to remember what they have done is all it takes when combined with strong faith. We, too, need to turn those who are persecuting us over to God and trust in Him to handle the situation.
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
Throughout the Bible, the number five is associated with grace and the number two is the number of witness. God is in charge of details and we see that the reconstruction of the wall in fifty-two days is a beautiful witness of God's grace.
When all our enemies heard about it and the surrounding nations became afraid, our enemiesâ self-esteem fell severely; because they realized that this work had been accomplished by our God.
When God does a work, people notice and that even includes the enemies. The wall was not only rebuilt but it was done in a very short time under difficult situations. Even the enemy could see that God was in charge of the work and that scared them. We may be opposed, as ministers of the gospel, but the opposition is to God and not to us. It is His battle and when He shows up its over!
During this same period of time, the nobles of Yâhudah sent many letters to Toviyah, and Toviyah kept sending them replies.
Now, we learn that God did this work even though their were people among His people that were working for the enemy. The nobles (which were probably the same ones that had been charging usury) were actually working with the enemy. They were focused on business and getting along for financial reasons. The same is true today as we see many that will compromise their faith for financial gain and even do the work of God's enemies for profit.
For there were many in Yâhudah who had sworn allegiance to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shâkhanyah the son of Arach, and his son Yâhochanan had taken as his wife the daughter of Meshulam the son of Berekhyah.
Tobiah had married well as he had married the daughter of the priest Shecaniah. Not only that but his son had also married a Levite woman. Because of this, many of the people were loyal to him and in fact worked behind the scenes for him against Nehemiah and God's work.
They would even praise his good deeds in my presence, and they passed on my words to him. And Toviyah kept sending letters to intimidate me.
These people had been trying to get Nehemiah to go along with what Tobiah said but had failed. When that failed, the devil had used Tobiah to try to intimidate Nehemiah but that too had failed. This is a reminder to us that the devil often uses people that are on the inside of the church to attack those that are doing the work of God.
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