ENEMIES WITHIN AND WITHOUT
Nehemiah 5 and 6
“When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.”
Sometimes the most discouraging truth is when you discover that it is your own people that are causing the problems. “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” When put in these terms it is clear that these “nobles and officials” were betraying their people and profiting from it.
Enemies within usually are not so obvious. They will have some reason to let others do the hard work but they will be there to gain the credit and the fruit. They are quick to run down other people’s ideas but do not have any proposals of their own. They are bold enough to threaten when things do not turn out the way they want, either by leaving or withdrawing their support, and they enjoy exercising authority over others. When it comes to expenditure, the church always cannot afford it but their lifestyle says otherwise.
It is interesting that Nehemiah became angry, not discouraged. This is the better response when you come across what is wrong. When you know right is on your side, you can get angry and let your passion move you to confront the wrong. When you get discouraged you are pulled inwards; you lose strength and momentum and are tempted to give up.
It is also interesting that Nehemiah chose to ignore enemies without as much as he could but dealt decisively and quickly with the enemies within.
When there were threats of violence, Nehemiah took practical steps to keep people safe. When people were exhausted and discouraged, Nehemiah adapted his strategy so people could get the rest they needed. But when the enemies were just throwing words and trying to make themselves more important than they actually were, Nehemiah ignored them and focused his mind and heart on God. He respected the enemy’s threats but he did not allow them space in his mind and heart.
Above all, God was the one Nehemiah was mindful of at all times.
“But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall.”