Attack One, Personal Strike

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:2-4

then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me. So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way.

Insights: Today we look at the first attack against Nehemiah.  As one reads the first part it sounds almost hospitable.  In modern day vernacular it would go something like this: “Nehemiah, you need to get away for a little while.  Take a vacation.  You have been working too hard.  It is true that we have had some issues between us in the past, but let’s talk about them and clear the air.”  If that had been all they were planning, that would have been fine.  The problem was they wanted to get Nehemiah to Ono to harm him. They wanted to kill him.  Understand I am writing about attacks.  There is a time for conversations with those in opposition with you.  Those times are when both parties are truly seeking reconciliation.  In this case, all Sanballat, Geshem and Tobiah wanted was to get rid of their headache, Nehemiah.  Also notice the persistence of these three villains.  Four times they wrote this letter to Nehemiah and each time Nehemiah said, “NO!”  How did Nehemiah know they had intended to harm him?  The answer is DISCERNMENT.  Discernment is the ability to recognize the things of God and the things of this world.  Satan masquerades as an angel of light and without discernment his tricks can seem very genuine and real.  On the surface Satan makes an attractive and compelling presentation as to why he has your best interest at heart, but it is a lie.  The only way to grow in discernment is to spend time on a daily basis with God in pray and in His Word.  The more time you spend with God, the more you are able to recognize the subtle inconsistencies in Satan’s ploys.  What ought one to do when tempted with such an evil attack?  One needs to do exactly what Nehemiah did.  He said, “NO!”  He even went further and acknowledged he was doing a great work for God and could not be side tracked.  Beloved, stay focused on the work God has called you to do.

Questions:

1. Have you ever tried to use your influence to intimidate another individual?
2. Have you ever been on the receiving end of such intimidating tactics?

Prayer: Father, we live in a very selfish world.  Lord, guard my heart from being an evil person who intimidates others for their harm.  At the same time, give me wisdom and discernment to recognize when others are trying to steer me away from You and Your ways.   Amen.