In Christian life, there will be opposition. Nehemiah faced opposition when he decided to build the wall around Jerusalem and install gates. His amazing life and his achievement in building the Walls around Jerusalem in 52 days, which was in ruins for nearly 150 years, in a hostile environment unparalleled in history. (Nehemiah 6:15)
Disturbed leaders
Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah were disturbed, displeased, and depressed when they heard Nehemiah had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. (Nehemiah 2:10)
Despising mockers
Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab jeered, despising accusing Nehemiah of rebelling against the king. (Nehemiah 2:19-20)
Disdaining attitude
When the wall was being built the trio jeered, taunted, and said – if a fox goes up on it, the wall will break down. (Nehemiah 4L1-6)
Direct attack
When Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. They plotted to attack directly and cause confusion. (Nehemiah 4: 7-9)
Distraction tactics
They sent messengers inviting him for negotiation. By doing so, they expected Nehemiah to leave the work and go, so that the work may stop. It happened four times, and on the fifth time, they sent an open letter. (Nehemiah 6:1-9)
Defame and destroy
They sent a message saying that someone was going to kill you. They wanted Nehemiah to come for a closed-door meeting at the temple. They hired false prophets to prophesy and mislead Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 6:10-16
Defiant Nehemiah
The first and foremost weapon Nehemiah used was faith in the prayer, answering God, and fervently praying to him. According to context and time, he prayed for days and sometimes a few seconds. Second, he refused to be intimidated by his enemies. There is a proverb: “One who fears, dies.” Third, he analyzed the enemies’ conspiracies and countered them effectively. Fourth, he was wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove.
Do I handle opposition like Nehemiah?