August 18

Religion And Ridicule

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.” — Neh 2:19-20 BSB

So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. — Neh 4:6 BSB

The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, as recorded in Scripture, took place during troubled times. Local rulers, who had benefited from the city's lowly state, viewed the restoration efforts with disdain and plotted against the work. Their schemes required constant vigilance.

If you are working for God—clearing away sin’s debris, rebuilding broken lives, or seeking the welfare of God’s people—don’t be surprised if you face scorn and ridicule, like Nehemiah did from Sanballat and Tobiah. For many, mockery is harder to endure than outright opposition. If only these critical voices would fall silent, we could make better progress. Yet, this persecution drives us back to God, making His presence a living reality and revealing the strength of His saving hand (Nehemiah 4:4, 9, 20). In such moments, it is good to stop relying on man and remember the great and mighty Lord (Nehemiah 1:5; Isaiah 51:12-13). Ensure that you are following His plan, doing His work in His way. Move forward in His name, and He will turn obstacles into paths.

The Christian life has a threefold focus: first, we look upward into God's face—"I prayed to the God of heaven." We must never forget to pray, for prayer achieves more than we realize. Second, we look upward against our foes—"We prayed to our God and set a watch against them day and night." We must both watch and pray. Lastly, we look downward at the work entrusted to us, working diligently with unwavering devotion, in fellowship with our Lord (1 Corinthians 3:9). Let us ask ourselves: "Am I inside the city, among its builders, or outside, with its detractors?"

Prayer

O God, teach us daily what You would have us do, and give us the grace and power to accomplish it. May we never avoid the path You set before us out of ease or fear of shame. Amen.