The wall around Jerusalem is almost rebuilt, but those who oppose the work will not stop trying to derail the endeavour. They fabricate invitations to lure Nehemiah away from the work. They invent false rumours that the king has caught wind of the rebuilding and is planning to put Jerusalem down as insurrectionists. They hire false prophets and send intimidating messages. But Nehemiah refuses to be swayed saying, “I realized that God had not sent him because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.”
The church is no stranger to invented rumours. In early Rome, Christians were accused of eating babies (by those who heard bits and pieces of the Nativity and that the church observed the Lord’s Supper). Those who oppose the Kingdom will invent outlandish things in the hope that Kingdom work will be abandoned. Have you slacked off in the work because you fear invented rumours? Have you maybe even started believing that the rumours might be a little bit true and softened or changed your faith in certain doctrines because they have become culturally uncomfortable? God, strengthen our hands!
