The God of Heaven Will Give You Success
I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is it you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"
I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." Nehemiah 2:18-20
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is it you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"
I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." Nehemiah 2:18-20
Every true vision is usually far-reaching in its impact to affect people for the good. Typically, a godly vision is meant to affect the destiny of society in a positive way. This, however, does not mean that everyone would throw their support behind the vision simply because the objectives are selfless and laudable. On the contrary, every true vision is bound to attract some form of opposition or resistance because there are some who would rather not see those positive results unleashed for the betterment of all. There is no true vision without opposition.
Nehemiah and the Jews encountered opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah. The biblical reason for their resistance is rather interesting: "When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites (Jews)." (Neh. 2:10) They simply opposed the vision because it would promote the welfare of the Jews. They would rather see the Jews live in disgrace and without protection. They resorted to mocking and ridiculing the Jews in an attempt to discourage them from accomplishing their goal. It appears the mocking and ridiculing started even before Nehemiah and the Jews actually started working on the wall.
Nehemiah, however, remained unperturbed. His response was confident: "The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."
When you face opposition in the pursuit of a goal, dream or vision, always encourage yourself with this simple thought: "The God of heaven will give me success." Even when you are mocked and ridiculed, remember that He who began this good work in you will be faithful to complete it. Close your ears to the taunts of those who mock and oppose your dream and look up unto the God of heaven. He will uphold you and grant you success.
Nehemiah and the Jews encountered opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah. The biblical reason for their resistance is rather interesting: "When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites (Jews)." (Neh. 2:10) They simply opposed the vision because it would promote the welfare of the Jews. They would rather see the Jews live in disgrace and without protection. They resorted to mocking and ridiculing the Jews in an attempt to discourage them from accomplishing their goal. It appears the mocking and ridiculing started even before Nehemiah and the Jews actually started working on the wall.
Nehemiah, however, remained unperturbed. His response was confident: "The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."
When you face opposition in the pursuit of a goal, dream or vision, always encourage yourself with this simple thought: "The God of heaven will give me success." Even when you are mocked and ridiculed, remember that He who began this good work in you will be faithful to complete it. Close your ears to the taunts of those who mock and oppose your dream and look up unto the God of heaven. He will uphold you and grant you success.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for being my strength and source of encouragement. Amen.