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Then the fifth time, Sanballat
sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an
unsealed letter in which was written:
"It is reported among the
nations-----and Geshem says it is true----that you and the Jews are
plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall.
Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their
king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation
about you. In Jerusalem: "There is a king in Judah!" Now this
report will get back to the king: so come, let us confer
together."
I sent him this reply: "Nothing
like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up
out of your head."
They were all trying to frighten
us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it
will not be completed."
But I prayed, "Now strengthen my
hands."
NEHEMIAH 6:5-9 NIV
Sanballat did all that he could to
discourage/frighten/intimidate Nehemiah in his God-guided mission
to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. As the scripture indicates,
Sanballat attempted contact with Nehemiah via messengers and notes
a total of five times. A reading of chapter 6 in its entirety will
give you the details of the first four attempts. Read the unsealed
note of attempt number five though. He slanders Nehemiah. Sanballat
has written a letter designed to make Nehemiah believe that he has
been defeated, that no one believes in what he is doing and what he
has prayed to God about and acting in obedience to carry out.
Imagine receiving this letter. Maybe you have received such a
letter. Maybe someone had written or spoken or passed on in some
ways a "letter" full of lies about you. What is the usual,
immediate, worldly response to a "letter" like this?
The concept of defending one's
life is leaping to mind. It is necessary to go chest to chest with
your accuser or find a laundry list of his faults (true or
otherwise) and circulate those. How does Nehemiah respond? Simply.
"Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are
just making it up out of your head."
And he then concludes that his
discouragers used these fear tactics to weaken them. What does he
do next? He prays for God to strengthen his hands.
Always in prayer. Always back to the Lord for protection.
Do you ever pray your fears? Pray directly into them? Pray
from the storm itself and ask God to provide you all that is
needed? Nehemiah did not back down and he did respond to
the letter but he did not expend energy spewing back
anger.
Who is your Sanballat? I am not
asking you to name names here just want to know if you know who the
enemy uses and is using to discourage and intimidate you. How often
have you prayed for your version of "stronger hands"?
K
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