No enterprise undertaken for the Lord can escape some measure of opposition. Nehemiah and his people were soon to prove this. Satan will oppose any work that has God’s interests in it. Yet, so often, the true character of God’s servants is brought out in times of testing. We shall see today that opposition can come from a variety of sources and people. From open hostility to subtle subterfuge, many sorts of trials assail God’s work. ‘Watch and pray’ is the word.
There are indications that as soon as there was shown a serious undertaking by Nehemiah to engage in the work, the opposition began. Sanballat and Tobiah were grieved to hear that there was a man come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel, 2. 10. In verse 19 they turn to mockery and derision. The Jews are rebelling against the king! Nehemiah soon put them in their place – they had no part in God’s plan for Jerusalem. These represent the sworn enemies of the people of God. They did not understand, so they mocked. We shall often find that those who have no sympathy will scoff, and those who deride do not share a concern for God’s work.
As Nehemiah progressed, he had to face constantly recurring measures of hostility. These men are called ‘our enemies’, 6. 1. They will stoop to subterfuge, pretending to be in sympathy with the work, yet planning to destroy. ‘They thought to do me mischief’, v. 2. They had one end in view; to weaken and discourage those who worked.
‘And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life. I will not go in’, 6. 11. Opposition only strengthened Nehemiah’s resolve to go on; this is often the effect it has!
Today we can ponder on these efforts to disrupt God’s work. We see in the life of Paul the same features of opposition. He was pursued and persecuted, yet he was confident God’s work would succeed. ‘A great door and effectual is opened to me, but there are many adversaries’, 1 Cor. 16. 9. From the fires of adversity, there emerge gold of worthwhile service.
