Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6: 2-4, NIV.
Gracious God, the Author of wisdom and understanding, please teach us as we sit in Your presence today. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
We come to another scenario in the rebuilding of the walls. When the enemy realizes that he cannot stop you from rebuilding, by means of discouragement, he will think of something else. One of his favorite tactics is distraction. When the enemies of the Jews saw that despite their threatening and attempts at intimidation, the walls had been rebuilt, “and not a gap was left in them” (6: 1a), they decided to show another face, and use another phrase, “Come and let us talk.” Rule number One: Never converse with the enemy!
Poor Mother Eve, that was one of her mistakes, she entered into conversation with the enemy. She failed at the first attempt because she felt she could resist the tempter’s snare on her own, “On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger but dismissed her fears, deciding that she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and to withstand it” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 54). We know the end of that story. She fell for his lies, and the sons and daughters of humankind have been falling for them ever since!
He will usually begin his conversation with a doubtful thought, “Did God really say . . .” (Genesis 3: 1)? “Does Job fear God for nothing” (Job 2: 9)? “If you are the Son of God . . .” (Matthew 4: 3). And, if at first he does not succeed, he will try, and try, and try, again! Listen to the report by the prophet Nehemiah: “Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer” (Nehemiah 6: 4, emphasis provided). He never gives up! And he does not insist just for naught. There is a reason for his insistence, Nehemiah summed it up quite accurately in these words: “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed” (9a). But instead of holding a conversation with the enemy, Nehemiah used a spiritual weapon that all of us can use: prayer (9b), and continued to build!
The only One who ever met the enemy and defeated him at his own game was the Lord Jesus Christ, “Then the devil left him (Jesus), and angels came and attended him” (11). After tempting Jesus in the wilderness, He only took a rest, but never stopped trying to make Jesus sin, up to the very end! Note however, the method used by the Savior: ” ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ ” (Matthew 4: 4). ” ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’ ” (7). ” ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’ ” (10). Praise God, Jesus was victorious! Before He closed His eyes in the sleep of death that Friday evening His last words were: “It is finished” (John 19: 30). Finished was the battle between the Seed of the woman and the serpent. The Savior had met him on his own terrain and had conquered, not by conversing with him, but by subjecting him to the Word and will, of the Father.
The safest method for the Christian in the warfare against evil is to stay off enemy territory. If you are not close enough to hear him, you will not be tempted to answer him, and one of the safest things you can do, is not to converse with the enemy.
Have a very blessed and happy Sabbath!