It is wild how much what I’m reading in Nehemiah is aligning with all the lessons God has been teaching me over the past year. I told my mom today that last year felt like a coming of age novel, where I turned in the ideas that had gotten me to where I was . . . and realized God radically needed to transform me in the way I saw the world.
Yes, I’ve grown up knowing and believing that we’re all born sinful. But I never really understood the extent of it, since I was blessed to grow up pretty sheltered. I believed that if I was kind enough and loved hard enough, people couldn’t help but mirror that back to me.
I know, I know . . . that’s only wishful thinking.
So, how does that tie into Nehemiah 6? Well, I’m fascinated to see how strong Nehemiah is. I covered in my post on Nehemiah 5 how he wasn’t content to sit back on his heels. Nehemiah was a person of action. He saw a problem, and he called it out.
But even that wasn’t enough. We as Christians have a responsibility to not just complain, but to offer solutions.
Here, he continues his boldness when his bullies begin trying other tactics to distract him from his goal. My prayer this year has been that I’m wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove. I feel I leaned too much on the latter part, but in life there’s a balance to everything. I can still be gentle, kind, and “harmless” . . . but I also need that viper wisdom. And that comes when we pray that God will help us discern peoples’ motives so we can keep ourselves and the ones we love out of harm’s way.
Of course, this isn’t a guarantee. Life hurts us, and people will hurt us. But I know that with time, God can grow the discernment in us to know when people are worth pouring into or giving an umpteenth chance.
Tactics Nehemiah’s Enemies Used Include:
01. Manipulative Good Will
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together . . .” But they intended to do me harm. Nehemiah 6:2
Knowing myself, at the first hint of good will, I would’ve gone running to these peoples’ side, ready to hear them out. That can be our superpower, but our greatest strength is also our biggest weakness. Let’s pray that God helps us know when people are really reaching out an olive branch . . . and when it’s more like a thorny vine to cut us!
2. Dogged Insistence
They sent to me four times this way . . . Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servent to me with an open letter . . . Nehemiah 6:4-5
If you aren’t ready to be unwavering in your answer, peoples’ insistence upon their own way can be pretty persuasive. But what’s right is right. People repeating their lies or manipulative compliments are still just letting words of death, not words of life, come out of their mouth.
3. Colorful Threats and/or Insulting Accusations
It is reported . . . that you and the Jews intend to rebel . . . now the king will hear of these reports. Nehemiah 6:6-7
How quickly honey turns to vinegar when rebuffed!! Sanballat and his henchmen realized their tactics weren’t working, so they turned to more aggressive maneuvers.
But get this—you have to hear Nehemiah’s answer. It’s so gutsy and to the point: “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” (6:8)
People like this must resort to empty threats, because at it’s core, what you are doing is righteous. They’re the ones in the wrong. The threats are still hurtful and scary, painting your motives or reputation as less-than-savory, but you know they’re wrong. Live a life now that can back up that good reputation.
4. Paralyzing Fear
They all wanted to frighten us. (Nehemiah 6:9)
Fear is probably the enemy’s most powerful weapon, because it really can be debilitating. This chapter links fear with the previous tactic, because how scary would it be to know that the king of the land is going to be told you’re rebelling against him because you want to be the peoples’ king?? That would surely grow fear inside of me.
But this is when we have to pray (which is exactly what Nehemiah does). He doesn’t laugh in their face or quote some positive mantras about himself. He prays “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” He acknowledges that it’s God that gives him the ability to get through all these tactics of the enemy.
5. Strategic Manipulation
For this purpose he [Shemaiah] was hired [context from Amanda: he was hired by Tobiah and Sanballat, Nehemiah’s tormenters], that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. (6:13)
They spoke of [Tobiah’s] good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to me to make me afraid. (6:19)
Sanballat and Tobiah again changed tactics. See how sneaky the enemy can be? They started gentle, then upped the heat, then again retreated into subtle ways to get Nehemiah to play into their hands by forcing him to act in an unrighteous way (this is the importance of watching your every action!).
6. Gossiping
Finally, the men “reported my words to him [Tobiah]” (6:19).
Be careful what you say. Halls are echoey, and secrets have a way of getting out! My mom always told me that if I can’t keep my own secret, how could I expect anyone I told to? I still remember that whenever I struggle with loose lips. Whoopsie!
A good rule of thumb that I still consider to know if you’re gossiping is asking yourself, “Would I say this if the person were in the room? Would I say this to their face?” If the answer is no, you’re probably in the danger zone.
In this case, what Nehemiah said in confidence or in a moment of foolishness could get back to his enemies and sabotage the work He was doing for the Lord.
Conclusion
As a Christian, it’s important to stand up to evil as you continue boldly in God’s work. You must call out lies and learn to recognize the tactics of the enemy . . . but in full reliance that God gives both discretion and success.
