Day 38 – July 8, 2025
55-day Devotional Journey – Day 38

Scripture:
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 manneIn 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.
Nehemiah 6:1–9 (ESV)

Reflection:
Seeing that the wall was almost finished, the enemy sent people to lure Nehemiah to negotiate four times (verse 4). They said politely: Please come and we can discuss and compromise. Nehemiah saw that they wanted to harm him, so he did not leave his post and firmly replied that he had a great work to do and could not stop working to meet them. Sanballat again spread rumors in an open letter that he was building the wall to rebel against the king, so he invited him to discuss again to avoid the king's anger. The purpose was nothing more than to make him afraid and leave his post. Nehemiah's response was to denounce them directly while praying and working. Our Lord was also slandered by the world when He was on earth: "If you are the Son of God with real life, come down from the cross!" They also mocked Him, saying: "He saved others; He cannot save Himself" (Matthew 27:40, 42). He did not give up the great work of redemption out of fear and so today we can be saved and victorious today.

Reflection Question:
Nehemiah faced more opposition, but he understood that the work God had called him to do was the most valuable and he refused to be distracted. How can I continue to advance God’s mission in the midst of chaos?

Prayer:
Our great and awesome God, thank you for keeping your covenant and showing mercy to those who love you and keep your commandments. Thank you for giving me a position of service. Please help me to live out a real life, so that people can see that I have peace in a chaotic environment where right and wrong cannot be distinguished, and that there is an invisible force supporting me to calmly and firmly complete my mission when facing pressure. May your name be glorified! In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray, Amen.

By Pastor Lionel Lam