Nehemiah - Conflict

Question of the day:  How do you handle conflict?

So just as a quick review, last week we looked at the incredible organization, the way Nehemiah got everyone to work together, and we were impressed with the list and the diversity of all those who came together to get this wall done.  But all was not smooth sailing.  Today we see the conflict. 

READ: Nehemiah 4

Opposition to the Rebuilding

4 [a]When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 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?”

3 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!”

4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of[b] the builders.

6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. 

So in the first 3 verses what do we see here?  What kind of trouble are they running into?

This week there was a video going around on social media about the little boy who had been bullied.  I couldn't even watch it but I know it has made a huge impact on so many to see the incredibly sadness that the bullying causes.  These first 3 verses are all about bullying.  They were mocking everyone that had come together.  

Have you ever been mocked for trying to do something?

Maybe as a kid?

What happens to you?  

Sometimes mocking can spur you on.  Sometimes it can break you down.

What makes the difference?

We often only look at bullying as an issue that kids deal with, do we experience it as adults?

What about people mocking us?

I am not sure how to even ask this question, but are there things that we do that are perhaps coming close or are in the same family as we interact in our adult circles?

I can honestly say I don't think we have ever been mocking or bullying in the Kitchen Class sitting around these tables, but do we experience it and see it on Facebook or other social media platforms?

Can the things we post even been mocking to those whom we know believe differently than we do?

How did the workers here in this story respond?

The very first thing they did was what? 

Prayed.

What were there prayers like?

Do we ever pray like that?

I thought this was awesome!  

In someways they were able to turn their frustration over to God.  They were asking Him to do what they couldn't do.  I love this!

This is going to be a new technique I use for sure! 

What do you think of this as a way to handle our frustration or hurt or anger at being ridiculed? 

The beauty of this plan is that it turns it over to Him.  It lays it in His hands and yet it is very real and honest.  Am I just being petty, or is there something wrong with these prayers?

Verse 6

So what was the results of their prayers? 

We don't see God answering them, but we do see what they are able to do.  They built it half way because they were working with all their hearts. 

Verses 7-12

We see why they only made it half way.

What was happening?

What was Nehemiah's response, or what did he do? (verses 13 and on) 

This passage ends with "each had his weapons even when he went for water."

I want you to keep that in mind as we discuss life application. 

First, it is notable that not everyone stopped working and started fighting!!!!!

I have been struggling recently with somethings that I have wondered if I need to be fighting for or against.  Where is the balance between fighting for what is right and just putting our heads down and working? Here we see a beautiful example or illustration of how it can work.  

Some are called to fight and others to work while those who are the fighters keep guard or fight the battle!

So if God is calling you to build a wall get building but maybe he is calling you to stand behind and fight.  Or be ready with the armor of God on.  Pray for those working, support them, let them know though you may not be building the wall you are going to defend them from the attacks with the Lords help! 

How can we practically stand behind someone as they build a wall or do work that we know we are not called to do?

What would that look like?

Nehemiah said who would do the fighting.  Who was it? 

So they had swords and armor and had people designated to fight and yet he says, "Our God will fight for us." 

What is the balance we see here, or is not balance just preparedness?  

For us today what would this look like?

In our church here at University City, what would this look like?

Now I started this lesson with the last sentence of this chapter and I want us to go back to that last sentence. 

"...each had his weapon even when he went for water."

What does this look like for us today?

Perhaps this is a warning for us to make sure that our guard is up even when we go for just a drink of water.  Maybe it means that when we are going about our daily mundane lives that we need to make sure we are on guard for the attacks that might come our way.  Maybe it is a comment made by someone, or a show you watch, or a comment on Facebook that you read.  The deceiver is always trying to attack you and often when you least expect it so be diligent and always keep God's Armor on!  

Our last study ended with looking at the Armor of God. If you need to take a moment and review that! What is the armor and when do we wear it?

This passage in Nehemiah is so important! If we are doing the great work that God has called us to, there will be opposition! There will be mocking! There will be threats! We get to turn our frustration, hurt, anger, and vengeance over to God and let Him turn their insults back on their heads! We can be ready for the fight, armed, ultimately knowing that God will do take care of it.  We don't all have to be the warriors, some of us will stand behind those who are building and make sure they are protected.  Some of us will be building all the while ready to fight.  All of us must be prepared and watchful of what evil may creep into our lives, even when just going for a drink of water.  Be watchful! Don't let your guard down!