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2014 VOL 20 ISSUE 4 HENEVER GOD WANTS TO GET A God’s children is never easy. Modern work” (v3). His sense of responsibility WORK DONE, HE LAYS HOLD OF Sanballats and Tobiahs are not any less and care for the work to which he is WWILLING PEOPLE. We see this pattern evil than those of Nehemiah’s day. called for is evident in this answer. throughout the ot. Nehemiah was In chapter 6 of the book of Nehemiah The work must not be disturbed. one such who became a useful weapon we see the craftiness of the enemy and “Why should the work cease while I in the mighty hands of God. God the canniness of Nehemiah. leave it and go down to you?” (v3). was looking for someone to go to the He says nothing of his jealousies, nor ruined city and restore safety and order. Schemes and snares: v1–11 reproaches them for their treacherous Nehemiah was to be that person. His The adversaries heard that the wall design, but gives them a good reason, work was not just preaching, as some was built and no breach left in it. one of the true reasons why he would other prophets of the ot, rather he Then Sanballat and Gashem sent not come. had to put his hands, mind and body an apparently friendly message to This reply of Nehemiah to his enemies into a laborious work. He was more Nehemiah (v1,2). They realized that is worthy of adoption by us in our inspired with the sense of his obligation they could not prevent Nehemiah’s Christian life. When we are tempted in to help his brethren, even at the cost project from succeeding by open to devious sins and into practises which of much trouble, self-denial, and peril military engagement: so they decided will hinder us in our Christian duty, let to himself. His mission was not easy. to overcome him by deception. They us be reminded of our great calling and Though he had all the credentials, proposed a conference, pretending responsibility. qualities and proper authorization from that they wished to come to a good We also notice the concentration of the king, and did everything through understanding with Nehemiah. They mind and energy Nehemiah employed the proper channel, the enemy did not would lure him in to a mutual ground, here. This is essential to succeed in leave him alone. They tried their best to outside the wall. But he recognized any important pursuit. Nehemiah was attack him and stop the work. the evil purpose of their hearts. ‘Ono’ committed to his work. Four times As inspired by Nehemiah, people went was near Lydda, in the plain country back to work and so did the enemy. bordering on Philistines. But Nehemiah This time Sanballat and his men aimed inwardly knew their thought was to do A journey through Gujarat 3 their attacks on Nehemiah, the leader. him mischief (v2). It is possible that Many of God’s people will never realize, Nehemiah had some secret information The Danger of Criticism 6 here on earth, the special temptation regarding this plot. ABC of Godliness 11 and testing God’s servants face day after Nehemiah replied to them with great For your information 12 day. Trying to do something good for heavenly wisdom. “I am doing a great Sanballat and Geshem sent messages to of when trying to serve in lowliness is Nehemiah and the conspirators but Nehemiah and four times he returned painful indeed to any sensitive soul. But it is now an affair between God and the same answer. Then they changed it is well not to retaliate, nor even to these unholy plotters. And God can be their tactics. They had tried conciliatory explain, but just to ignore the cowardly trusted to settle this matter righteously RAJASTAN methods and failed to corrupt him. charges and leave results with God. in His own time. Now they would use a scandalous In the midst of the enemies’ endeavour The culmination of the commission: report with intent to intimidate him to frighten him and the people and so (v5). There is nothing new under the weaken their hands, Nehemiah lifted v15–19 sun. Satan’s wiles are such, and the man up his hands to heaven in a short prayer At last, despite every effort to frustrate of God must not be ignorant of his (v9): “O God, strengthen my hands.” the work, “the wall was finished” in devices. The support and relief for a godly man fifty-two days from the time they began PAKISTAN The fifth time Sanballat sends his ser- is that he has a God to whom he can to labour. When this was manifest to vant with an open letter in his hand. approach by faith and prayer when he the surrounding nations “they were Official letters were typically rolled up is in trials and difficulties, when the disheartened in their own eyes” (v16). and sealed with an official signet by the enemy is trying to fill him with fear and The following statement is noteworthy. sender or one of his officials. An open weaken his hands. In Christian work “They perceived that this work was letter or unsealed letter was not only a and warfare, when we are entering into done by our God.” While it is true that sign of disrespect and open criticism, any service or conflict, we have this the leadership qualities of Nehemiah but also was sent with an intention to God to hear our prayers. and the collective and committed make the information therein public, effort of the people contributed to the Satan has not exhausted his ammu- completion of the work, Nehemiah and thus create alarm among the Jews nition. When the open letter failed to and excite them against Nehemiah. The gives all the credit to God and he says intimidate Nehemiah into stopping even his enemies understood that goal of this document was to intimi- the work and coming to a meeting, his date Nehemiah into stopping the work. the work was not possible without GUJARAT enemies decided to try intimidation the intervention of God. God works The letter suggested that Nehemiah’s from within. They hired a false prophet through faithful people, but it is God MADHYA intent to revolt was common know- (v12), Shemaiah, to lure Nehemiah who works. PRADESH ledge which would be made known to into the Holy Place in the temple for the king of Persia if he did not come refuge from a murder plot. To enter Nehemiah adds a footnote to it (v17– to the requested conference (v6–8). and shut himself in the Holy Place 19). In the days of building the wall, UJARAT is We are not told what impression, if would have been a desecration of the the nobles of Judah who refused to Ga state in the any, this letter made on the Jews. It house of God and would have caused work (ch.3:5) were in alliance and western part of was carefully worded to imply that people to question his reverence for correspondence with Tobiah because India. It is known Sanballat’s only desire was to clear God. Shemiah was the son of a priest they were related to him by marriage. locally as “Jewel of the MAHARASHTRA Nehemiah of the accusations or bad who was a friend of Nehemiah. This The nobles reported Nehemiah’s words West”. It has an area of reports that were made against him by plan would give them grounds to raise to Tobiah on the one hand, and praised 196,204 km2 (75,755 sq mi) Tobiah in Nehemiah’s hearing on the others around. Yet it was so cunningly an evil report against Nehemiah, who with a coastline of 1,600 km other. phrased to create fear in any dissatisfied was not a priest and had no right to go (990 mi), most of which lies on the Malwa: modern Gujarat, South of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, prson within... that they are facing an into the Holy Place. It would also make How many of you have faced this Kathiawar peninsula, and a population Sindh, Rajasthan, Maharash- Independent India’s first Deputy investigation if Nehemiah did not go the people question his courage (v11). kind of atrocity as you wholeheartedly in excess of 60 million. The state is tra and Madhya Pradesh. Prime Minister and Home Minister, down to confer with Sanballat. But God’s devoted servant again rose, tried to serve the Lord? Remember it bordered by Rajasthan to the north, Gujarat was known to the was from Karamsad, Gujarat. It is also But Nehemiah was not concerned strong in faith, superior to the situation is nothing new. It is an old tactic of Maharashtra to the south, Madhya Ancient Greeks, the the home state of two Indian prime about this at all. He knows he is per- (v11). He realized that he was again the enemy and all who participate in it Pradesh to the east, and the Arabian various Persian Empires, ministers—Morarji Desai (1977–1979) sonally right with God; and he does not face to face with evidence of a plot will go down with the enemy. We have Sea as well as the Pakistani province the Roman Republic, and and current incumbent, Narendra fear suspicion and idle tales. He was against him. With Sanballat and Tobiah seen it several times since we started of Sindh on the west. Its capital city familiar in other Western Modi.

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