Not Giving in to Nay Sayers

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it…Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together….” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.” Nehemiah 6:1-3 ESV

My former State House colleague now US Senator Cory Gardner has three town halls scheduled for tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what happens at these meetings. We are in one of the most challenging political climates in our nation’s history.

The rhetoric from all “sides” is intense, the protests are loud and never-ending. The criticism is loud and unrelenting. In the midst of it all political activists are questioning why their elected officials don’t jump at the chance to “meet with them.”

The tenor of their protests and criticism reveals they don’t want to listen, as much as they want to just “be heard” and rant over their displeasure. They have already positioned themselves as antagonists and they cloak their aggression in what appears to be “noble” and reasonable expectations and approaches.

All this reminds me of the opposition that Nehemiah experienced as he was rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. Sanballat and Tobiah had made their opposition and hatred of Nehemiah and Jews very clear. They mocked their efforts and showed disdain for their plans and their God.

They then request Nehemiah to “come and meet with them.” In the natural it sounds reasonable. “Let’s meet and discuss our difference….let’s have dialogue.” Yet Nehemiah saw through insincerity and their plan to “do him harm.”

As a result, he refused their offer. They didn’t just go away, they persisted. Four times coming to him and “demanding a meeting.” His response was the same, “I am doing a great work and I can not come down.”

At times the best approach to distractions and those who oppose your leadership is to stay at the task. To realize that the work you are doing is noble and it requires your undivided attention. I believe when Nehemiah says, “I can’t come down….” that it can be viewed metaphorically. To “come down” to his opponents level would not benefit his main task and mission. Their attempt was to throw off the effort, by harming the leader.

Nehemiah’s formula for accomplishments in the face of great opposition was to “stay at the task, don’t give your enemies credibility, accomplish the project.” Nothing silences critics like success. When the wall was finished we read, And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” (Nehemiah 6:16 ESV)

Prayer for today…. Lord give us the wisdom, insight and discernment that is needed to stay at the task to which You have called us and not be distracted or discouraged by spiritual or human opposition.