Facing The Foe

by R. Hicklmg, Nottingham, England | Category: Leadership In Remnant Times | Aug 1993

Activities in Attack

whenever a work of God proceeds and develops, we cah be sure the Adversary will provide stropg and condnuous opposition.

There are many examples of this fact in Scripture, and in chapters 4, 5 and 6 of Neherniah we have recorded the sufferings of that man of God, and those who worked with him, as they set about building the walls around Jerusalem. As soon as they had said, "Let us rise up and build" (Neh. 2:18), Satan was busy to hinder, and if possible overow, the work. He is by no mean's limited to one form of strategy. We are reminded ofthis in 2 Corinthians 11:14 and 1 Peter 5:8 where Satan is presented to us as both an angel of light and a roaring lion. Satan is exceedingly subtle, and often presents the believer with circumstances and situations which, in themselves, might appear harmless, but are really traps set, into which one can fall, thereby displeasing the Lord and hindering His service. Once we realize this, then we can learn from the ways in which Nehemiah withstood the attacks of the Adverrary.

There are examples of some of Satan's methods of attack in the early history of the people of Israel. In Exodus we read of the people murmuring against the hardness of their circumstances. Then, in Exodus 17:8, we learn "then came Amalek and

fought with Israel". This was a frontal attack at a time of discontenL Compare this with Judges 6 where we read of the people making them "the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves" because "when Israel had sown ... the Midianites came up

and they ~ against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth" (vv. 2,3,4). This was a rather different type of warfare, that of sudden raids causing havoc to the daily routine of life, a source of terror to the populace, and resulting in the destruction of those things necessary to the wellbeing of the people. Similarly, Nehemiah and his fellows were to suffer from more than one form of warfare.

When Sanballat heard that, in spite of all opposition, the building of the wall round Jerusalem was proceeding, he "was wroth, and took great indignation" (4:1). He was very sure of himseff, and of the inability of the remnant to complete the work. Moreover, he had a man in league with him named Tobiah, who was an Ammonite. The Ammonites had long been enemies of Israel ~ph. 2:8) and quick in their reproach of that people. Together they heaped ridicule upon Nehemiah and his fellow builders. "If a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall" (v.3), they declared.

Mockery and ridicule are subtle, yet devastating weapons inflicting much distress on the victims. No one likes to be mocked, to become a laughing stock. There must have been many who felt the hurt of it all. Yet, Nehemiah was not to be discouraged, The mocking of the enemies was nothing compared to the greatness of the Gad he was serving.

While the taunts and jeers went on, Nehemiah turned his thoughts to Gad and to the attitude of Gad towards those who were trying to undo the work. Speaking to God, Nehemiah said, "They have provoked Thee to anger" (4:5). Nehemiab's own feelings counted for little, it was how God saw the work that mattered. So, in simple, succinct terms the record declares, "so we built the wall". Nehemiah knew from where he could draw his strength and complete the work in spite of the difficulties.

Sanballat, Tobiab and their ass~ ciates were "very wroth" when they heard that the work was proceing (4:7). Their thoughts as they conspired together turned to a frontal attack upon the city. They visualized the confusion that such would cause in Jerusalem. Some of the workers became axxious and troubled and

questioned whether they would be able to build the wall after alL Nehemiab had a different attitude. He linked prayer with watchfulness, and building with preparations for warfare. He spake encouraging words to the workers. He continued not only to praytohisGad, but also to watch and be prepared for attack~ The work had to go on, but, as they worked, "every one had his sword girded by his side" (4:18). Here was building and defending.

Not only is the Devil suble in his ways, he is also persistent. Ridicule, with all its subtlety, and the threat of frontal attack had failed to stop the work, so now the enemy turns to deceit and offers of compromise. Nehemiab and his associates were invited to meet Sanballat and Gesham in the plain of Ono. But their real purpose was to do the builders a mischief. Nehemiab was a discerning man and saw through their cunning (6:2). He refused their invitation and drew attention to the great work he was doing, which was God's work. Why, he asked, should it cease while he went down to men who were bent on mischief? Nehemiab had no time for parleying with the foe. Four times they tried him, and having failed they turned their attention to yet other ways. Sanballat sent his servant to Nehemiali with an open letter full of false accusations, hoping, no doubt, that those who read it would becorne embittered against Nehemiah. There was a fresh invitation, couched in friendly terms for him to meet with

Sanballat and take counsel together, but Nehemiab had wisdom from above and saw through the trickery. He repudiated all the accusations, and his reply was "there are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart" (6:8).

The foe is not so easily repulsed. The pretence of friendship on the part of Sanballat was not new, but now it is applied in an even more subtle way. An attempt is made to work through Nehemiab's own people. Nehemiab came to the house of Shemaiah who suggested that Nehemiah should take refuge in the house of Gad because, he said, "They will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee" (6:10). Once again, Nehemiah was alert to the trrre situation and he "discerned, and, 10, God had not sent him: but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiab and Sanballat had hired him" (6:12).

It is saddening to realize that Nehemiah and his associates not ouly had to repulse attacks from the outside, but there were occasions when he had to be on his guard against those inside. In chapter 5 we fmd him being appealed to by the people. There had been oppression on the part of some nobles and rulers against those who were poorer, and many of the people had been forced to give up their lands, vineyards and houses in order to buy food (5:1-13). This. situation caused Nehemiah to be angry, and, after careful consideration (5:7) he held a "great assembly" and remonstrated with the people. It is good to read that alter

these things had been brought to their notice they said, "We will restore them, and will requlre nothing of

them" (v.12).

The Enemy Repulsed

With the help of his Gad, Nehemiab and his associates fmished the building of the wall. It is clear from the scriptural narrative that he had a great zeal for Jerusalem, for the house of God, and for the importance of separating those inside from those outside. About one hundred years ago, godly men and women were exercised on similar lines, and, in spite of much opposition, took the separated stand in the spiritual house of Gad. Today, we are not 86 much engaged in building the wall, but rather in the vital work of maintaining it. To take a separated stand is not popular with some, but obedience to the Lord's will demands iL It is very easy for the wall to become trampled down, for there to be breaches to the advantage of any opposition. The waining of the apostle, given so long ago, still applies. "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, ... I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men atise, speaking perverse thihgs, to draw away the disciples after them. Wherefore watch" (Acts 20:28-36).

Can we not see, in many of the experiences of Nehemiah, and in the ways in which he countered the foe's attacks, lessons and guidance for us today? let us exatnine some of these things that we might learn from them.

Nehemiah put his trust in God, relying upon His faithfulness. The apostle could write to the Corinthian saints, "God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9). God is always faithful; we might not be. We too, as a basic necessity, need a zeal for God's house if we are to maintain our position. Relying upon the faithfulness of God' we, like Nehemiab, should be faithful. We must not allow ourselves to be beguilded by some aspects of Christian activity which might seem very attractive. He was a man who thought clearly. He was also a man who knew what it was to pray and to watch. The two go together. He was able to discern and was not deceived by appearances and the enemies' cunning. Nehemiah, and his fellows, knew what it was to both build and defrad.

The work was not easy, and there were times when the workers must

have been conscious of their weakness. They were not numerous, the undekkking was "great and large", and there was constant pressure from the foe. As a devoted leader, Nehemiab encouraged the people to look upwards for their strength, but he was alert also to his practical responsibilities and he arranged for a trumpet to be sounded to summon quick help to any point which was under attack (4:19,20). In the spiritual house of God today we, too, might become discouraged by a seeming lack of response by so many to God's way for the disciple. Let us, therefore, be ready to help one another knowing the work is of God and that we have the authority of Scripture. Let us continue steadfastly and find joy both in outreach and in the maintenance of the wall. "That good thing which was committed unto thee guard through the Holy Spirit" (2 Tim. 1:14).

R. Hicklmg, Nottingham, England | Aug 1993
Leadership In Remnant Times