"CONSUMED BY THE CALL"

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DISTRACTION #1

Nehemiah 6:1–4 “Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.”

>>>(v.1) Nehemiah was almost finished rebuilding the wall. That’s when the distractions began.

*Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem return!

>>>(v.2) They told Nehemiah simply to come down so they can meet-to stop his work and come to them. But their intention was to harm/kill him.

>>>(v.3) Nehemiah refused, because he was doing a “great” work.

*“great” means “important”-step up from “good” (valuable) work in ch.2.

*It wasn’t just valuable but important.

>>>He said the work will not stop, and he will not stop.

>>>Nehemiah was too busy to stop what God was calling him to do.

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DISTRACTION #2

Nehemiah 6:5–9 “In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

>>>(v.5-7) Sanballat changed strategies by sending a messenger with an open letter.

*The “open letter” means it was a public letter-anyone could look at it as it was being delivered.

>>>The letter had “reports” (some translate as rumors) that Nehemiah sought to lead a rebellion and to be the king of Judah.

>>>Once again he tells Nehemiah to stop his work and come discuss these reports with him.

>>>(v.8-9) Nehemiah is not phased, but sends back messengers calling the claims lies and Sanballat a liar.

>>>His response to distraction was to pray. The enemy wanted to sabotage his hands, so he prayed for God to strengthen his hands.

*WHEN THE ENEMY TRIES TO DISTRACT YOU, PRAY.

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DISTRACTION #3

Nehemiah 6:10–13 “Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.”

>>>(v.10) In this third distraction, Nehemiah visited a man named Shemaiah, who was shut up/restrained in his home (was unable to leave for whatever reason).

>>>He (Shem) suggested the two of them go hide in the temple, because the enemy would come at night to kill him.

>>>(v.11-13) Nehemiah refused to run away but also said that he would die in temple, because he was not a priest and was not allowed to go in that part of it.

>>>V.12 says that he “understood” (realized) and “saw” (look) that God had not sent him.

*He was hired by Tobiah/Sanballat to distract him.

*There was a spiritual perception Nehemiah had of the situation.

>>>This was to make a mockery of Nehemiah, make him a coward. But this also would have caused him to sin.

*DISTRACTIONS CAN CAUSE SIN.

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Nehemiah 6:15–16 “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

>>>(v.15) The wall was finished! Nehemiah had completed what he had set out to do (in only 52 days)

>>>(v.16) This news caused the enemies of the Jews to be afraid. Why? Because this work was accomplished with God’s help.

*God has helped/vindicated His people. He proved His power to all the nations.

*God once again receives the credit for this task.

>>>What would have happened if Nehemiah allowed himself to get distracted? It would have hindered God from getting his glory.