Do not be dismayed

I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:12-16

Throughout history, attempts have been made to stop what God has done since the beginning. But God continued to prevail to establish and to preserve His work through the life of His people. This is a testimony of God’s promise that He made to His disciples, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). When Nehemiah listened to God’s call to rebuild the wall in Israel, unbelievers mocked and scoffed at him. The Israelites at that time were in exile in Babylon. Yet Nehemiah was sure about the task that God wanted him to do that even in the midst of the persecutions and oppositions, he was not deterred. “Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously” (Nehemiah 2:18-19). In the midst of detractors saying the work will not be done, Nehemiah and a small band of people prevailed because God was on their side. Satan inspired the opposition to discourage the people of God. His tactic worked with some of the Israelites that they became dismayed at the progress of their work and there was internal strife among them (Nehemiah 5:7-14). But in the face of threat, Nehemiah and the people of God prayed. “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! (Nehemiah 4:4). So from our text, eventually God provided them the victory, “the wall was finished.” Victory was not just about the wall that was rebuilt but the realization of the people of God that the collapse of the wall was brought about by their sinfulness. Before the task was started, Nehemiah realizing their sin confessed and asked God to forgive (Nehemiah 1:6-11). Would that people of God follow this godly example so that there will be great rejoicing and realization that God’s will prevails.

Blessings.