MONDAY March 12, 2018
Strong Opposition
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite officialheard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel. - >Nehemiah 2:10
God had gone before Nehemiah and he would enable him to do a tremendous work in the city of Jerusalem––the doors were open for him and everything was proceeding as planned. But the people were in such distress they did not know what to do anymore. They had grown comfortable even in their difficult state and they needed a leader. God raised up Nehemiah and he had come to seek their well-being.
However, as Nehemiah unified the people, his enemies Sanballat and Tobiah opposed him. They became jealous and were upset about plans to do the work of God. They were selfish and self-centered, evil mockers, who depressed the people, and liked to keep them under their thumbs––they tried to lord it over God’s people.
Sanballat and Tobiah thoroughly set themselves against Nehemiah. They wanted the rebuilding of the city’s walls to be hindered. If possible, they would slow down Nehemiah’s vision to rebuild, so it could not be enhanced or continued. Tobiah was a rat and, as kin to the high priest, he readily leaked information to Sanballat and the others who were concerned about this new venture (Nehemiah 4:1-2). Sanballat and Tobiah would deliberately attempt to destroy the work of God. They hoped Nehemiah’s plans to rebuild the walls would just break apart. Then they could mock him further and say, “You tried but you failed.”
Satan is never happy when you try to do the work of God, especially if you are seeking the well-being of God’s people. Satan hates it––he is not happy at all. He will do anything in his power to slow down the work of God. He uses people like Sanballat and Tobiah, to fight against God’s people and hinder the plans of God.
Satan has no constructive purpose of his own: his tactics are simply to thwart God and destroy men.
~J. I. Packer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!