Opposition from the Enemy

Opposition from the Enemy

            Nehemiah’s task of rebuilding did not come without opposition. There were men from other nations who did not wish to see the Israelites succeed in their plans to rebuild. Although the Israelites were not as strong as they once had been due to their captivity, this did not prevent opposition from their enemies. Nehemiah 4:1-2 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble – burned as they are?” (NIV) The enemy was lurking around to plant seeds of doubt, ridicule and negativity against Nehemiah, but their comments did not deter him from what God had placed upon his heart to do.

            The enemy is always around to make us doubt the purpose that the Potter has ordained for our lives as well. The enemy despises anything and/or anyone of God and will do all that he can to stop the rebuilding of our lives. Nevertheless, we must not yield to the enemy’s opposition towards what God has purposed for us. The Lord will shield us from the enemy, but all we have to do is place our trust in Him, so that we can stand. Isaiah 59:19b “…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” (NIV)

C.) Prepare for Battle

            The enemies of Nehemiah were angry that the repairs had gone ahead despite their criticism and mocking. Therefore, they were determined to take it a step further and actually go to battle against the Israelites. Nehemiah 4:8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. (NIV) The Israelites had not done anything to their enemies to warrant their aggression. Nevertheless, this still did not discourage Nehemiah. He went to God in prayer and decided to arm up. Nehemiah 4:9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. (NIV)

            Whenever there’s a rebuilding of our lives taking place, we must also be ready for battle. The enemy does not want to see the Potter repair the walls and gates of our lives. As long as we remain broken and empty, the enemy is happy. Therefore, the fight begins once we surrender to the Potter to restore our lives. The Potter, however, never lets us be unprepared for the enemy’s attacks because He gives us the tools that we need to be victorious. We just have to know how and when to use them, which is outlined in His word. Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (NIV) God is our secret weapon that we must never lay down. Nehemiah defeated the enemy by staying prepared with a weapon in one hand and the other on the wall. Nehemiah 4:17b-18 Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. (NIV) Nehemiah did not quit over the threat of battle and neither should we. Following  Nehemiah’s example will help us progress spiritually by allowing God’s repairs to take place despite the enemy’s obstacles and as a result, we will become stronger than before in Him.

D.) Deal with Corruption

            The Children of Israel were finally on their way to getting reestablished as a nation. The rebuilding of the walls was going as planned and the enemy had been kept at bay. Nevertheless, there was a situation that arose that Nehemiah had to deal with. There was corruption in the camp. Some of the Jewish brothers were taking advantage of their fellow kinsmen and enslaved some of them to pay for food and other living expenses out of greed, while having been freed themselves. This caused a problem that Nehemiah had to mediate. Nehemiah 5:7-8 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us! They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. (NIV) The enemy had actually breached the camp. Not from foreign soldiers, but within some of the Israelites themselves. Therefore, Nehemiah had to call out the corruption and cause it to cease by having them to declare an oath before God.

            The enemy always try to find ways to get through the walls of our lives. If he is unsuccessful one way, then he will try a different route. Corruption is one of the ways that the enemy can gain access. It can take place in our lives by compromising with sin and going along when others do it. Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (NIV) When Nehemiah received word that there was a wrong taking place in Jerusalem, he did not turn his head and look the other way. He confronted it and eliminated its source. As vessels of the Most High, we are never to play around with sin. We have to acknowledge what it is in our lives and be animate in turning from it even when it is being done by others. Corruption has no place in any shape or form before the Potter. He seeks to work it out of us and in so doing, we can become a mighty vessel for His divine purpose. 

E.) Completion of the Wall

            Once again, Nehemiah was under the threat of harm due to the walls now being complete. What his enemies had said was impossible to do was accomplished and they knew that no one but God had made it possible. Nehemiah 6:15-16 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. (NIV) Despite knowing that the God of Israel had prevailed, Nehemiah’s enemies tried to entrap him, but he prevailed and avoided their traps.

            Once the Potter finishes the repairs in our lives, we are ready to become fully functional vessels for Him. During the repair process, God is taking out the old things that were sinful with which we found pleasure and giving us a new taste for the things of Him. This does not take place, however, without the enemy always trying to find a way to ensnare us into a trap, but God has given us power to overcome him. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) Nehemiah’s enemies knew that there were no gaps in the walls through which they could get through, and if we allow God to give us a total repair, we too can be just are resilient in our own lives.

F.) Return from Exile

            The Children of Israel had been in captivity for a long time and now, it was time for them to return and start their lives over again. Houses had to be rebuilt, tasks needed to be assigned, and much organization was needed to reestablish order in Jerusalem and services for the temple. Nehemiah 7:73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. (NIV) Much work still had to be done, but the Israelites had finally come back home where their lives could begin anew.

            The devil has had many of us exiled in sin. We left the righteous path that God had established for our lives and therefore, fell out of good standing with Him. Because sin cannot exist in the presence of God, we too became as exiles who were held captive to the bondage of sin. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (NIV) Despite our sins, the Potter did not leave us without hope. He sent His son, Jesus to die for our sins, so that we may dwell with Him for eternity. Where we were once exiles, He made us heirs of His family – the family of God. Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (NIV)

G.) Understanding God’s Covenant

            Upon returning from exile and settling back in their land, the Israelites were read the Law of Moses to them by Ezra the priest and scribe. Nehemiah 8:2-3 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made of man and women and all wo were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women, and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. (NIV) The Israelites had been taken into captivity because they did not want to hear or acknowledge the law of God in time’s past. They rejected the prophets of old who warned them that they would be taken into captivity if they did not turn from their idolatrous ways. Therefore, they were not ready to be obedient to God and understand the path that He had for their lives from which they had fallen away from.

            The Potter has given us His word so that we may know how to avoid sin. He has outlined it in such a manner that there is no excuse for disobeying His commands. We are no longer exiles, but have become a part of His heavenly family. Romans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free form the law of sin and death. (NIV) With that inheritance comes the responsibility to act as family by caring for our Heavenly Father and honoring Him through our actions and deeds. In doing so, we come into covenant with Him by not doing the things that we know causes Him displeasure. Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (NIV)

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