When the walls go up, the enemy begins to freak out. Control is slipping. That is when Sanballat multiplies invitations, open letters, rumors, and false prophecy. God may have already kept you from a job or a room that would have dragged you into an “Ono” meeting. Still watch for the sandstorms.
Five Things We Will Learn
- Why rising walls trigger frantic opposition.
- What the plain of Ono represents for builders today.
- How to answer false accusations without leaving the work.
- Why you must beware of what you share while the wall is unfinished.
- How Nehemiah prayed, “Now strengthen my hands,” instead of shrinking back.
Stay Away from Ono Meetings
Sanballat and Geshem said, “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm Nehemiah. Four times they sent the same message. Four times he gave the same answer: 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 6:2-4)
Then came the unsealed letter, gossip for the nations, accusations of revolt and self-made kingship (Nehemiah 6:5-7). Nehemiah answered, “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head” (Nehemiah 6:8). Deal with it directly. Do it in faith, not fear. He prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Watch Part 9
Beware of What You Share
Wisdom matters while gaps are closing. Not every detail of the work belongs on display for Sanballat to twist. Guard the confidence of the builders. Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded (Hebrews 10:35-36).
They even hired a prophet to lure Nehemiah into sin inside the temple so they could discredit him (Nehemiah 6:10-13). He discerned that God had not sent the man. Should a man like me run away? He would not go.
We Win If We Stay on the Work
When the enemies heard the wall was finished, the surrounding nations lost their self-confidence, because they realized this work had been done with the help of our God (Nehemiah 6:16). The thing they tried to do to you can land on them when God finishes what He started.
Have compassion. Forgive. Remain humble. Put your trust in Jesus. Rebuild. Refuse to stop.
In This Series
Previous: Part 8 of 13 | Heart of Nehemiah Series | Next: Part 10 of 13
Related Reading
- Heart of Nehemiah: Strategy from Heaven Requires Building and Fighting to Succeed (Part 8 of 13)
- Heart of Nehemiah: You Cannot Live Off the Repentance of Others (Part 10 of 13)
- The Heart of Nehemiah Rebuilding the Walls of the Church
- Unlocking Divine Favor: Lessons from Ezra and Nehemiah