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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

The belief that God created everyone on purpose with a divine purpose is the greatest blessing we enjoy as Christians. We were created with a divine purpose that encompasses every area and aspect of our lives. Having said this, there will be distractions in any area of our lives in which we choose to do something of importance. The interesting thing is, that which distracts us, is almost never more important than the thing from which we were distracted.

Nehemiah and the people were just about to finish rebuilding the city walls, all that remained was to hang the doors; however, Sanballat and his friends did not want to see the project completed. On previous occasions they threatened the workers with bodily harm but that did not work. Seeing, that the work was just about completed, they decided to take one more stab at their plot by focusing directly on Nehemiah. Their strategy was to distract him to the degree that he would focus on anything except hanging the doors. For this reason, they sent Nehemiah a message with an offer to meet up with Sanballat, implying that there would be no further opposition to the project. At first glance, this appeared to be an opportunity to make peace, however, Nehemiah interpreted it to be a distraction. Yes, peace was important to Nehemiah, but finishing the work was more important, so he responded by saying: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah received the same message four separate times, and each time he responded the same way.

Nehemiah 6:5-9 NIV

Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6 in which was written: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7 and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.” 8 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Because Nehemiah was not easily distracted by the apparent opportunity for peace, his enemies attempted to distract him by spreading a false rumor about him in an open letter, suggesting he was aspiring to become the King of Judah. This rumor, if it were to reach the eyes and ears of the King of Persia would result in the sure death of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah had the option to defend himself against this false rumor. After all, they were attacking his testimony and what they were saying could not be further from the truth. Nehemiah also had the option to become angry over these rumors. Instead, he understood that finishing the project was far more important than letting anger distract him. He could have yielded to his anger and confronted Sanballat, but he opted to do what he always did in difficult situations; he prayed and pressed on, focused on completing the task.

“But I prayed, now strengthen my hands”.