Date: August 19, 2026
Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 9, No. 14
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble — burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building — if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.” (Neh 4:1-6NIV)
Who got angry when he realised that the Jews were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem? It was a man called Sanballat. Why was he angry? He was angry because what those Jews were doing would destroy whatever wrong influence he and his associates used to have over their land and their lives.
Therefore, he and his men began to insult and ridicule them, thinking that would weaken or discourage them and make them abandon the work.
But did they abandon the work? No! Why? They did not abandon the work because it was good for their freedom, growth, development, prosperity and safety. Also, they did not abandon the work because they had the permission of King Artaxerxes, the emperor that they were under his dominion at the time. (Cf. Nehemiah 2)
So, they knew that nobody could legitimately force them to stop doing the work. Yes, people may harass them, insult them or threaten them. But they had no right to stop them from working. And if anyone should try to do so, it was on them to firmly resist the person.
Now that, of course, was what they did to Sanballat and his associates. They firmly resisted them. How? First, they paid no attention to their insults and discouraging words. Second, they prayed to God to deal with them and their insults and threats. Third, they continued to do the good work they had started until they completed it.
Fourth, they posted a guard day and night to keep an eye on those wicked people.What do we learn from this? It is simply that we must not allow anyone to discourage us from doing whatever we know is righteous, lawful and proper for us to do for our progress and peace of mind in life. People who are benefitting from our stagnation, misery or misfortune will never encourage us to do what is right for our lives.
On the contrary, they will do whatever they can to discourage us.Also, people who are complacent and are not desirous of anything great for themselves should not be expected to encourage us to do anything good for ourselves. What they will want is for us to remain together with them in the same stagnant situation and be suffering and complaining together.
If we, then, should begin to take steps towards advancement in life, they may be among the first to insult, threaten and discourage us.But as Nehemiah and the Jews of his time did, we must never allow anyone to discourage us, regardless of what they are saying or doing, as long as what we are doing is in the will of God and lawful for our progress and peace of mind in life.
Instead, we should ignore their wicked words, give ourselves to prayer, keep on working and also keep on watching. And God will honour us and fulfil all our good desires and every step of faith that we take.
Cheers!
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