In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah went back to the city of Jerusalem and said to the rulers, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work”, and in chapter two and verse nineteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “Sanballat and Tobiah” again,where we read,
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? will you rebel against the king?
The verse reads, “But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, ...”. Nehemiah began with the words, “but when Sanballat” or “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment Sanballat whose name means strength” “the Horonite” which means “the native of Horoanaim who was in Moab”, “and Tobiah the servant” or “and Tobiah whose name means Jehovah is good and was a man of servile condition, slave and bondman”, “the Ammonite” whose name means “tribal”, “and Geshem” or “rain and was a foe of Nehemiah” “the Arabian” which means “the inhabitant of Arabia which means step-dweller” “heard it” or “listened to, perceived and discerned that Nehemiah charge the officials and people of Jerusalem to rebuild the walls” the following occurred. Nehemiah shared when “Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem” perceived that Nehemiah was inspiring the people of Israel to rebuild the walls to the city of Jerusalem, they did the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? will you rebel against the king?” Nehemiah continued with the words, “they laughed us to scorn” or “they, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, mocked, derided and ridiculed us, Nehemiah and the people of Israel”, “and despised us” which means “held in contempt, disdained and despised, Nehemiah and the people of Israel”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “what is this thing that you do” which means “whatever is this work that you, Nehemiah and the people of Israel, perform and produce”? “will you rebel against the king” or “shall you, Nehemiah and the people of Israel, revolt, be rebellious and disobedient in opposition to the royal ruler and leader”? Nehemiah shared how “Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem” ridiculed and despised him and the people of Jerusalem by asking what they thought they were doing, and they wondered if they were going to revolt in opposition to the royal ruler by rebuilding the walls.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how not everyone was excited to be a part of the work of Jehovah God through Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem. “Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem” were agents of the opposition not only to Nehemiah, but also to God Himself. God wants to be active in our lives through His Son Jesus who died on the cross and was resurrected from the grave three days later. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and use us in His Kingdom even when people oppose the work God has called us to do.
Next time Nehemiah says, “the God of heaven, he will prosper us”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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