The theme for Nehemiah chapter six is "Further Opposition to the Rebuilding of the Wall." Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod (Nehemiah 4:7) were among those who opposed God's work. In their initial attacks against God's work, these enemies of God used mocking, fear and intimidation (Nehemiah 4:1-7, 6:1-9). Nehemiah and his team was able to surmount those challenges through prayer, ignoring distractions and keeping their focus on the project and by setting up physical measures to protect themselves against physical attacks.It seems that in verse 10 of Nehemiah 6, the enemy changed tact and chose to use deception to disrupt God's work. To deceive simply means to make someone believe something that is not true in order to gain personal advantage. Nehemiah was at a high in his leadership: the great project that he had set his heart to do was almost complete, save for the doors in the gates. At that high moment, he was vulnerable to deception because his guards were likely down since he might have felt that they had already overcome most of the challenges. The devil too knows the seasons of our lives and knows which weapons to forge against us in those seasons. As believers, we ought not be ignorant of the devil's vices, since he prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1st Peter 5:8).
It is recorded in verse 10 that Nehemiah visited Shemaiah and the latter gave him this message: "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you". Shemaiah was luring Nehemiah to enter the tent of meeting contrary to the Laws of Moses which only permitted the Priests and Levites to access this holy place (Numbers 18:22). It seems that Shemaiah was at the very least an acquantaince, if not a friend to Nehemiah, considering that he paid him a visit. Despite Nehemiah's relationship with Shemaiah, he remained sensitive to God and his response to the latter's message is impressive: "But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him".
Nehemiah was in step with the Spirit and was able to rightly judge the received message. He actually demonstrates what 1st John 4:1 commends us to do- to test every spirit to see whether it is from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. Desiring and praying for the gift of discernment is not an option for the 21st century believer for we live in a highly deceptive world, whose ruler wrestles against the purposes of God for our lives. May God help us to abound in love, in knowledge and in depth of insight so that we may be able to discern what is best, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10). On the flip side of it, what would have happened if Nehemiah fell for Shemaiah's deceptive message? The judgement of God would have fallen on him and this would have meant the downfall of his leadership and ultimately, halting of God's work. These are some of the dire consequences of deception, often characterised by much pain, shame, bondage and sometimes, utter destruction.
Joshua, the great leader of Israel, at one time fell into deception which had been carefully plotted by the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites constituted part of the inhabitants of Canaan, of whom God had instructed the Israelites not to make any treaties with (Exodus 23:32). To escape destruction, the Gibeonites disguised themselves to be from a far country by loading their donkeys with worn out sacks, old wine skins that were cracked and mended; putting on patched sandals, wearing old clothes and carrying bread that was dry and moldy (Joshua 9:3-6). These people came in a delegation and made a peace treaty with the Israelites. Sadly, prior to signing the treaty, the Israelites only sampled the provisions the Gibeonites had, to confirm that they were from a far away country. However, they omitted to do a very important thing: to inquire of the Lord (Joshua 9:14). They leaned on their own understanding rather than on the guidance of God. As a result, they made a lasting treaty on oath, never to destroy the Gibeonites from the land that God had desired that the Jews fully possess. At the height of Joshua's leadership success (after savoring victory over Jericho and Ai), he fell for the Gibeonite deception.
No believer is too mature to be deceived. It is by constant training on listening to God that we are able to discern what is of God and what is of the devil. Walking in step with God and living daily by His guidance, takes a life that is offered up as a living sacrifice, fully abandoned to the will of God and transformed by the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:1-2). Believers today must re-commit themselves to Christian disciplines of seeking God through His Word, prayer and fasting; daily longing for and spending quality time in worship; living in fellowship with other believers and walking righteously before God as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. In so doing, their spirits will be alive and sensitive to the Spirit of God. Many believers today ask this question: "Does God still speak to people in this day and age?" The truth is that God is speaking all around us, yet we often do not hear Him because our spirits are dead and our flesh alive in sin. Those who live in the Spirit know His voice and they follow it in obedience. As John 10:4 states, "When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice".
May God help you and I to stop judging by mere appearances and to start judging correctly. May He help us to spiritually discern and know that which is his acceptable, good and perfect will. May He help us to understand that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light! The Church must remain sensitive to both what pleases the Holy Spirit as well as what grieves Him. It sometimes seems difficult to do things God's way; but only that which is done by the Spirit in God's Kingdom avails much and bears lasting fruit; all else is of no avail.
Just like it was the case in the wilderness as Satan tempted Jesus, the devil will often use our area of need to tempt us into sin and disconnect us from our Source- God. Many Churches in Africa have a need for money and if they do not walk in God's wisdom, understanding and guidance, they can easily be lured into sinful ways that by human judgement seem permissible. Many believers and Church leaders have lost their influence and voice in society because they traded their rightful position of authority for money from wicked men who are wolves in sheep clothing; for business growth; for fame; and all other worldly lures. The Church in Africa must desist from looking up to politicians and other wealthy men to meet their financial needs, for God does not need help to meet His bills. We must seek to know why prophet Elisha refused to receive gifts from Naaman, once the army commander had received his healing from leprosy. The truth of the matter is that no one bites the hand that feeds them; and so the Church must keep its focus on the author and perfecter of their faith, for only He is their True Source.
Join me in making this prayer bases on Philippians 1:9-10:
My Father in heaven, I pray that my love for you may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, Amen.
