INTIMIDATION. Nehemiah 6:1-13 There are "teaching moments" in the Lord's work that call for a temporary shift in focus to correct a wrong or to emphasize what is right. The fact that exorbitant interest had been charged to the general population had to be addressed because it affected the building work underway. What the word of God says about charging interest to the Jews had to be taught again, and warnings had to be given to unscrupulous moneylenders who were impoverishing their own people. The teaching that we are to conduct business right, according to the word of God "because of the fear of God," had to be enforced by Nehemiah's personal testimony. When the Lord's people see a leader practicing what he preaches, they will be inclined to follow his leadership, even in times of open opposition from without.
The internal problems among the people of Judah had been addressed wisely and firmly. The writer of the narrative used Nehemiah's consistent leadership as an example for the Lord's people on how they should deal with one another so they might live and prosper peacefully. Then the account goes back to the building of the wall, which was nearing completion.
The enemies of Judah had an evil plan to halt the work of the Jews who had resettled in Judah and Jerusalem, and the Jews were now nearly finished building walls around the city. They had tried various tactics before: mockery as a psychological tactic, intimidation, and threats. But as the project neared completion, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem made a “last-ditch” effort. This time they tried a personal attack against Nehemiah.
Their attempt to lure him out of the city to harm or kill him failed; they couldn’t provoke him into taking action so they could charge him with wanting to be the king. Four times they tried to get him to respond, and four times he resisted. He understood the implications of their intimidation, deception, and unjust criticism. Nehemiah was focused on finishing the wall. He concentrated on what was important and refused to be diverted from that goal. He refused to be distracted.
Nehemiah saw through the attempts of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who, along with other enemies, tried four times to stop the work of finishing the wall and installing the gates. Each time, Nehemiah gave them the same answer. They wanted to get the leader away from the work, hoping the laborers would quit before the gates were in place. Then the city would still be in danger. Nehemiah had the right perspective on the work he had been given. He was doing a "great work," and he knew it would cease if he wasn't there. Any work God gives us is a great work, whether small or large, because it has been given to us by a great God. We need to understand the value of any work we have been called upon to do for the Lord.
What does this open letter that everyone can read mean? Often the objective behind such an act is to sow poisoned seeds. There may be a personal dislike of one, or a misunderstanding. But whatever the reason for spreading character attacks, something is underhanded. It brings a question upon a work that may be different from what one chooses – and the hope in starting a gossiping campaign is that one’s credibility loses its impact and the work will fail, which they are trying to undermine. A search is on for some flaw in character the accusers hope to find.
A letter deliberately left unsealed indicates that the writer wants as many people as possible to read it. Behind that is the desire to promote subterfuge and strife to discredit someone or something. Both the letter and the deceptive informer, Shemaiah, were used by the enemies of the Jews to stop the servant of God, the work of God, and the will of God.
When these attacks come, and they surely will, remember who called you to labor. God commissioned you to do a work, not to curry everyone’s favor. Stick to the work; remember the goal. God has designated you as the one to do this work, so don’t get sidetracked. Keep at it till it is done. You may have to respond if they attack continually, but don’t join in a fight. Say as little as possible, using simple, plain words to restate your objective. And don’t let yourself be stopped by jealously worded invective.
This practice continues to this day in one form or another. One devoted to the Lord will be able to discern the evil strategy of spiritual enemies. When we know we are “doing a great work and cannot come down,” that is an effective way to strengthen ourselves and make clear to enemies that we see through their tactics. There may even be times when an enemy like Shemaiah suggests that one’s life is in danger. The enemies of God and His people do not give up the fight against righteousness and holy devotedness to God.
Press on faithfully. The prize is before you, and the labor will soon be over. Those who oppose you personally will sometimes have to recover their credibility because God has His way of bringing things to pass. He is concerned about your goal as well and is aware of the character attacks. If something needs to be done about them, leave it to God to arrange a meeting if necessary, or, if He chooses, let things go on without change. You can’t change another person’s mind; all you can control is your own. Just keep doing what you know God wants; all the circumstances are known to Him.
Tend to your own work and don’t meddle in things others put in your path. Often God allows times of testing; remember, a soft answer turns away wrath. Keep your soul warm with God’s truth every day; never allow yourself to be bitter. You are better off laboring alone than arguing with a grandstand sitter. Spend time reviewing the plans God has given you. Perhaps the character attacks will cease when the work you do is through. Then it won’t make any difference what others have said. The “well done” from the Master we serve will take care of problems along the way.
It is of great importance to warn those who lift their hands against those upon whom God has set His hand and His heart. The “powers that be” are ordained of God, but when God’s servants speak for Him, neither the person nor the message they give can be ignored or rejected without grave consequences yet to come. Evil in our day is as institutionalized in government and society as it was in ancient times. In our changing and changeable society, slavery is absolutely terrible because it is the control of one person by another, yet abortion is acceptable because it is the killing of a child by parental permission. Price gouging is abominable, but sexual perversion is considered normal.
Of great interest to us today is that groups of people, similar to those who opposed and sought to kill Nehemiah, hold the same attitude toward Bible-believing Christians. Believers in Christ today are called intolerant bigots to their faces and are being spoken against, challenged, taken to court, and charged because they will not accept the perversions and sinful lifestyle that are accepted by the government, religions, educators, and, gradually, the whole population.
Any man who leads God's people in a work that opposes evil and spiritual danger, if he acts according to the word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than his own opinion, can expect to be personally attacked by those under the devil's control. Unjustifiable attacks and character abuse take many forms of intimidation. Satan uses people to start rumors that are totally unfounded in the truth, and he then promotes them through gossip and deceit. It is an unfortunate characteristic of a natural or carnal man to accept as true a report that puts down a leader's character. The motivation behind such a thing may be jealousy, envy, or sometimes simply not liking a person.
Deceit and false reports are common tactics the devil uses to stop a work of God. Attacks on one's character are difficult to defend against, especially if a person is not well known. People rarely rise to the defense of someone who has come into the public eye unless they know them well. The law may not judge a man before it hears him, but many people do. The only defense is to trust God to take care of the problems we can't solve and to keep pressing ahead faithfully in God's strength to accomplish the work He has given us. Those who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ today, as believers did before Christ came, will suffer persecution from those who don’t want God in their lives. Living the way God wants in an ungodly society of people who love sinning creates tension that makes it hard to do wrong if you like to do wrong, or to do right if you want to do what is right.
There will always be a conspiracy against those who want to live for God in a holy way. Satan opposes those who want to live for God and will attack everything they do that is right. He is a liar and a deceiver, determined to bring down in disgrace and failure those who represent God. Jealousy and envy are two of his most effective ways to turn people against those who love the Lord. He is jealous and envious of God, and so he uses that tactic to get those who follow him to stop the testimony of Christians. One person said, “Jealousy is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius.”
The reputation of Nehemiah, a man God used for years of public service, was maintained. Nehemiah was consistent in his attitude toward God and men. He had an excellent spirit and qualities evident in his consistent aptitude and abilities. These were given to him by God, and he knew it. Those envious men couldn’t find anything wrong with what he did that they could use to discredit him.
When God’s people can move with dignity and grace among others without a condescending, patronizing attitude, others notice and feel uncomfortable around them. They are friendly, but not foolish. They are helpful, but not a pushover. They are gracious yet firm in their beliefs and convictions. Such people are trustworthy, but not arrogant. It is not easy to move through the garbage of this generation without letting it get to us.
We need to stay enthused about the right things and reject the wrong ones. Many people around us are discouraged, and they seem to want everyone else to be discouraged as well. Integrity gets in the way of many people's plans. When a person is faithful to God, that is a powerful accusation. It will not be easy to remain faithful to God when luxury, ruthlessness, self-seeking, cruelty, and corruption characterize the public sector. It costs to remain committed to righteousness when unrighteousness is the accepted practice in business and life.
For a leader to commit to excellence in leadership, he must pay a high price. Consistency in your work will make you someone both God and man can trust. People will be able to count on you to keep your word and do what you say you will. You can’t help but be effective then, and your reputation will set you apart.
God’s Spirit was in Nehemiah for the work he was given to do, and his exceptional qualities of faith, grace, and proficiency made him stand out as a leader. That is how God worked in the life of His servant. His trust in God didn’t waver. He was consistent in his occupation, in his purity, and in his prayer life, whether in public or in private. The only way those who opposed him could bring charges against him was to resort to deception.
Innuendo, slanted opinions, conspiracy theories, or reports from “unknown sources” are ways jealous people use to bring a person down in front of others and to elevate themselves. Jealousy delights when a calamity or misfortune befalls a peer noted for purity of life before men and for prayer before God. It is important for those who put their trust in God to be trustworthy in the eyes of others. That often provides opportunities in difficult times to testify to one’s faith in God despite obstacles. Holiness should characterize one who knows and loves the Lord. The law of God, alive and working in a believer, enables one to live happily within the confines of the Scriptures and to practice its teaching in public and private life.
Leaving work unfinished because of intimidation is a lack of faith on our part. Satan will use any means, from deceit to death, to stop the work of God. One who has been called by God must remain steadfast in purpose and be determined to fulfill their responsibility. Any compromise or act of intimidation is a step down if we respond to such threats. Commitment to a work until it is completed is expected of those whom God calls. Remaining consistent in the work may be hard during trials, but our God can "strengthen" our hands through testing rather than take us out of the difficulty.
Education, upbringing, and personal ambition do not necessarily prepare us for divine service. It is our Lord who equips and empowers His servants to do His bidding. It is our responsibility to obey Him without complaint or hesitation. We need to know our limitations. He also knew who he was and why God had sent him, so we are not intimidated by the opposition.