Nehemiah 4:1-15; Nehemiah 6
by Susanne Moore
The best defense is a good offense. The last five choices in Nehemiah’s Blueprint to Rebuilding that I have written about in past blog posts taught about making methodical choices for future success and change. That is the best offensive action in facing the enemy.
In 1 Peter 5:8 it says “Be sober-minded. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour.” That is powerful and worrisome right? What I discovered about the enemy though is that he does this with little lies, half-truths, sweet lips, and vinegar. Throwing doubts like little sprinkles on an otherwise hopeful day. We must be watchful, eyes opened, prayers up, knees down, minds clear and our insecurities and fear in check, leaning into God’s word: know it, trust it, believe it, stand on it.
How do we do this? In Nehemiah 4 the enemy begins ridiculing, throwing out doubts, calling them names like “feeble Jews” and criticizing their work. How do the Jews respond? Verse 4 and 5, “Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.”
They cried out to God.
Does the enemy stop? Nope, never. It is all he knows how to do. Scheming, plotting and insulting, seeking to destroy. They decide in verse 11 they are going to try to infiltrate their camp to kill them. Remember evil never stops trying, the enemy keeps striking any way he possibly can. Because in Revelation 12:12 it says, “he knows his time is short.”
Good news is if you are on the offensive that is your best defense, God is our weapon. He makes sure we know the enemy is coming and gives us a vision on how to distinguish the perpetrator who is among us. James 4:7 states, “Submit yourselves before God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Nehemiah 4:15-20 “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”
So incredibly powerful. Not only will our God fight for us he also equips us with the proper weapons and warriors.
Nehemiah 6 when the enemy lost that battle, he tried to lie and scare Nehemiah. He calls for him to come see them. Nehemiah refuses. The enemy then sends one of his aides…. you know alien robots, devils…with a letter supposedly from the king. You know the king that sent him to rebuild. But Nehemiah is so in tune with God, he does not believe it. He recognizes it as a foolish attempt at trickery. This is so important, he was so in tune with God, he does not believe it. I LOVE his response to this letter in verse 8, “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” Hilarious. Then Nehemiah prays “Lord strengthen our hands.”
The enemy is finally defeated somewhat after a few more attempts to get Nehemiah to sin. But, listen to Nehemiah 6:16 “When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” Go God and thank you God.
Let’s unpack a little more on how we defend the new in Choice 8 coming soon. In the meantime, let’s really educate ourselves on how we stand in the offensive position. A game played in the defender’s box is exhausting, overwhelming and usually a battle that is difficult to win. God is our best offense.
Lord Jesus, in light of what is going on in your world, Nehemiah is such a great reminder of how you have always been Israel’s best offense. Our best offense. We know the enemy will never give up because his time is short. So we must be prepared, and fully armed with your tools. Thank you for always having our backs and help us see the truth and not be deceived by the enemy. You are our God, earnestly let us seek you.
In Christ,
Susanne
Susanne Moore 