Nehemiah : WK 3 - TUE
Danger
Nehemiah 2:9-10
When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.
With little fanfare, our story shifts from Nehemiah’s requests to the journey itself. Here, we note a benefit of having friends whose insights align with their resources. The king has anticipated the challenges of this journey and equipped Nehemiah with letters of permission and the protection of soldiers he hadn’t considered requesting.
The moment our construction team crosses the borders of Jerusalem, we encounter a recurring character in our story, Sanballat. He consistently serves as the archenemy to our hero.
Sanballat believes in God. He is part of the Jewish lineage that remained in the region while others were deported to Babylon. Over time, both he and his ancestors adapted the Hebrew faith to incorporate elements from surrounding religions, mingling through marriage and theology. His name is derived from the Sumerian moon god, and the people he governed were called Samaritans. He will oppose Nehemiah’s work at every turn.
Not all believers are the same. I often reflect on the difference between saying I am a Christian and saying I am willing to be identified with every Christian. A similar distinction must be made for Adventist Christians.
The importance of undiluted allegiance to Yahweh was to the Jew what Christ is to the Christian. It isn’t enough for Jesus to merely be in the mix, one of many important notions or fundamental beliefs. He must be the center and circumference of our faith. As Paul says in Colossians 1, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (1:17) And as Jesus himself put it in the Gospel of John, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (14:6)
For today, recognize the reliability of this truth. Wherever Jesus is lifted high, people are drawn and enemies are mobilized.
Nehemiah 2:9-10
When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.
With little fanfare, our story shifts from Nehemiah’s requests to the journey itself. Here, we note a benefit of having friends whose insights align with their resources. The king has anticipated the challenges of this journey and equipped Nehemiah with letters of permission and the protection of soldiers he hadn’t considered requesting.
The moment our construction team crosses the borders of Jerusalem, we encounter a recurring character in our story, Sanballat. He consistently serves as the archenemy to our hero.
Sanballat believes in God. He is part of the Jewish lineage that remained in the region while others were deported to Babylon. Over time, both he and his ancestors adapted the Hebrew faith to incorporate elements from surrounding religions, mingling through marriage and theology. His name is derived from the Sumerian moon god, and the people he governed were called Samaritans. He will oppose Nehemiah’s work at every turn.
Not all believers are the same. I often reflect on the difference between saying I am a Christian and saying I am willing to be identified with every Christian. A similar distinction must be made for Adventist Christians.
The importance of undiluted allegiance to Yahweh was to the Jew what Christ is to the Christian. It isn’t enough for Jesus to merely be in the mix, one of many important notions or fundamental beliefs. He must be the center and circumference of our faith. As Paul says in Colossians 1, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (1:17) And as Jesus himself put it in the Gospel of John, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (14:6)
For today, recognize the reliability of this truth. Wherever Jesus is lifted high, people are drawn and enemies are mobilized.
- What activities do you think are too dangerous to take part in? Why?
- Whom do you consider wise? Whom do you seek counsel from regarding major plans?
- Have you ever felt discouraged from following Jesus because of the behavior of other Christians? If so, how?
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