Manna for Your Morning

Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. — Nehemiah 4:1 (NASB1995) When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of Nehemiah’s arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel. (See Nehemiah 2:10) Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem proceeded to mock the Israelites. Instead of replying to his enemies, Nehemiah turned to Yahweh and prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! (Nehemiah 4:4 NLT) Know that when you engage in a good work, the enemy will always attempt to discourage, distract and halt the work of Yahweh anyway he can. May we remember that we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in ...

Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. — Nehemiah 4:9 (NKJV) When the Israelites were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, their adversaries were very angry and conspired together against them to cause the work to cease. God’s people responded in prayer and also in arming themselves with swords, spears and bows. Whatever work you engage in, for the Lord, know that you will encounter adversaries, who want nothing more than to stop the work of God. When enemies rise up against you, don't be afraid of them, remember the Lord, great and awesome! (Nehemiah 4:14). May we arm ourselves, with prayer and with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Then we can rely on the power and protection of our great God.