Monday, July 14

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Monday

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”  Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.  - Nehemiah 4:1-6

Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem are being attacked psychologically.  We have a clear example of this here. That's a powerful, effective tool. It's still used today. There are books out today on psychological warfare in the office place. How to psych out your competition. The world continually ridicules the church. Puts it down, argues, makes fun of God's people, characterizes them as weak, ignorant, intolerant, fanatical people, all pastors are either wimps or crooks. 

Why is it so effective? It's because it attacks our sense of self worth.  The Jews involved in building the wall with Nehemiah had been living in disgrace for decades, and their confidence was probably still a rather fragile thing.  Spiritual and psychological warfare can be very debilitating.  There are many people who can overcome tremendous physical obstacles, but are defeated by psychological obstacles.

The passage says that Sandballat became extremely angry. "He became very angry and greatly incensed...."  In other words, he is not rational at this point, he is enraged.  Ridicule is always the substitute for reason. Laughter is always the substitute for logic. If people can't reason you out of a position they'll just try to ridicule or shame you into giving up. People who ridicule you are usually just afraid.  Afraid that you're going to succeed. He uses name calling, "...those feeble Jews". He implies that they have a selfish motive. He makes fun of their beliefs. He overstates the case.  

All of these are typical tools of ridicule. He says "Are they going to rebuild it in one day?" No where is there any place they say they're going to rebuild it in one day. That's typical ridicule. They overstate their case, set up a straw man and then try to knock it over.  And notice this - ridicule is contagious. When Sanballat makes the initial ridicule Tobia, his side kick, chimes in and starts. There's always people who will ridicule you if somebody else will take the lead. 

In this story, the character of Sandballat symbolizes our spiritual enemy today - Satan.
This might sound like a stretch to you, but let’s consider the similarities for a moment.
They oppose the work God wants to accomplish
They are angry and fearful when God’s people take action
They are skilled at twisting the truth to confuse and discourage God’s people
Their primary weapons against God’s people are deceit and shame 
They recruit other weak minded people to their cause
They are ultimately unable to stop the work God is doing!

The kingdom of God on earth will never exist without opposition until the day our King returns to establish the New Jerusalem.  Our enemy is real and he is active and he will do all that he can to mock, shame, distract, tempt, discourage, and ridicule us into giving up.  But do not be discouraged, let the words of Scripture remind you of the truth...

 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  - 1 John 4:4

Jeff Frazier