"Oh No" from Ono

by Steve Hale

"So I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you? But they sent me this message four times and I answered them in the same manner" (Neh. 6:3, 4, NKJV).
Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the Arab, were set upon stopping the Jews from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. If Nehemiah succeeded in his commission from King Artaxerxes, it would end their domination of the area. They desperately wanted to sidetrack Nehemiah from his great work.
They even came a fifth time with an open letter from Sanballat's own hand. The letter was filled with lies, seeking to intimidate Nehemiah and his workers: "...No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart" (Neh. 6:8). This propaganda had a distinct motive: "For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done" (Neh. 6:9a).

Thankfully, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem failed to stop Nehemiah. Instead of being intimidated, these Jews looked to Almighty God for strength in the face of persecution: "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands" (Neh. 6:9b).

We learn some great lessons from Nehemiah! We learn from Ono to "Oh No" to those who would try to hinder the work of the Lord! Consider these factors:

1. The Source. Nehemiah was commissioned by Artaxerxes, but the ultimate commission came from God (Dan. 9:24-27). Therefore, if God wants a certain thing done, no one has the authority to call it to a halt!

2. The Enemies. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem were liars. They were very willing to misrepresent Nehemiah's commission and motivation. Unfortunately, similar opposition is faced from without the brotherhood, and even, very sadly, from within the brotherhood. God is never the source of a lie ( Hebrews 6:18), and those that oppose what God has authorized by rumors and lies are not doing God's work, but the Devil's ( John 8:44)!

3. The Strength. Nehemiah asked for God to strengthen him (Neh. 6:9). We are nothing without the help of the Lord! We need his blessings and his strength ( James 1:17)!

"By their fruits, you shall know them" ( Matthew 7:15)