It’s sad but true that sometimes when we do something good
someone gets mad. Sad but not surprising. The devil has always been against the divine,
and unfortunately he doesn’t have to look far to find those willing to raise a
ruckus against what’s right.
Often the ones opposed are closely involved, but occasionally
they’re just close-by busybodies like the men who rose up against the
rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall. “Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the
Ammonite official…were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the
welfare of the Israelites”(Neh 2:10).
Their reasons for opposition were selfish and sinful. They
wanted the Jews to stay down and defenseless, and they wanted to be the big boys
on the block. The arrival of Nehemiah threatened their façade of power and
authority, so they tried to tear down his work with their words. “They
mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this
you are doing?’ they asked”(Neh 2:19). They
made fun of and tried to make a fool of Nehemiah and his plan, and when that
didn’t work, they questioned his motives by insinuating he was leading a
rebellion.
Often silence is the best response to ridicule (“When they hurled insults at him, he did
not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats” 1 Peter 2:23), but if
you must answer back, point up. “I answered them by saying, ‘The God of heaven
will give us success”(Neh 2:20). When we do what we do not for earth’s dust
but heaven’s delight we can handle opposition with optimism and without
discouragement. Nehemiah informed the
men that this wall was God’s work, that he and those with him were God’s
workers (“We his servants will start
rebuilding.” Neh 2:20), and that the ones against it had no business even
being part of the conversation (“But as
for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
Neh 2:20).
Those against the good will always
be around, but don’t let them get you down.
Opposition is just another opportunity
for God to show His glory.
Keep building.
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