Read Nehemiah 4:1-2

As the Israelites begin working on the walls and gates of Jerusalem, several of the leaders from the surrounding region once again take notice. Nehemiah has mentioned three of these leaders previously.

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?” Nehemiah 2:19 NIV

As the work on the wall begins in earnest, two of these leaders resurface to mock and ridicule the work and the workers.

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” Nehemiah 4:1-3 NIV

Take notice that Satan is very crafty indeed. Rather than inspire these leaders to bring an army to attack the Israelites, Satan leads them to attack the confidence and morale of the Israelite workers. We must remember that Nehemiah received a report from his relative Hanani that the Israelites living in Jerusalem were “in great trouble and disgrace.” (see 1:3) These people who Nehemiah has inspired to begin this work are a sad group who have grown accustomed to be an object of ridicule and disgrace in the region. Satan knew this so his first attack came with mocking and ridicule. This most likely would have hurt the Israelite people deeply and could have slowed the work.

Satan also knows our greatest weaknesses and will attack us where he knows it will hurt the most. Consider the words of Peter…

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Satan knew that “sticks and stones” may injure these workers, but “words” had been hurting them for decades. Thankfully, they had a leader who knew how to handle this opposition.

Questions to consider:

Think of a time when you were the object of ridicule and mocking. How did this make you feel?

How would this affect your desire to work and continue through your everyday life?