Nehemiah 6:1-7: a reflection

1Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me. 3I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?” 4They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way. 5Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words. 7You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let’s take counsel together.”

As Nehemiah nears the completion of the wall, his enemies try repeatedly to lure him away from the work, inviting him to meet with them, intending to harm him, and when that fails, sending false accusations to frighten him. But Nehemiah will not be pulled away: I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you? Four times they try, and four times he gives the same answer, staying focused on the work God had given him, refusing to let their distractions and threats pull him away from it.

Notice Nehemiah's focus: he would not let distractions or threats pull him from the work. His enemies tried repeatedly to draw him away, with invitations and then with intimidation; but Nehemiah recognized these for what they were, attempts to stop the work, and refused to come down. He kept his focus on the great work God had given him, not letting the distractions, the meetings, the false accusations, pull him away from it. He would not leave the important work to answer every distraction and threat; he stayed at his post, saying simply, I am doing a great work, I cannot come down. His focus on the work was not shaken by their efforts to divert him.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too must stay focused on the important work God gives us, not letting distractions and intimidation pull us away. When we are engaged in important work, there are many things that would pull us away, distractions, demands, the efforts of others to divert us, sometimes even threats and accusations; but Nehemiah stayed focused, refusing to come down from his great work. There is a place for recognizing distractions for what they are and refusing to let them pull us from what God has given us to do. Do not let distractions, demands, and intimidation pull you away from the important work God has given you; stay focused, as Nehemiah refused to come down, saying, I am doing a great work. Stay focused on the important work God gives you, refusing to let distractions and intimidation pull you from it, as Nehemiah answered his enemies four times, I am doing a great work, I cannot come down; for the work God gives us deserves our focus, and there is wisdom in recognizing distractions for what they are and refusing to leave the great work to answer them.

Lord, as Nehemiah nears the completion of the wall, his enemies try repeatedly to lure him away from the work, inviting him to meet with them, intending to harm him, and when that fails, sending false accusations to frighten him. But Nehemiah will not be pulled away: I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down; why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you? Four times they try, and four times he gives the same answer, staying focused on the work you had given him. Show me Nehemiah's focus: he would not let distractions or threats pull him from the work. His enemies tried repeatedly to draw him away, with invitations and then with intimidation; but Nehemiah recognized these for what they were, attempts to stop the work, and refused to come down. He kept his focus on the great work you had given him. He would not leave the important work to answer every distraction and threat; he stayed at his post. His focus on the work was not shaken by their efforts to divert him. Take that to my heart, for I too must stay focused on the important work you give me, not letting distractions and intimidation pull me away. When I am engaged in important work, there are many things that would pull me away, distractions, demands, the efforts of others to divert me, sometimes even threats and accusations; but Nehemiah stayed focused. Keep me from letting distractions, demands, and intimidation pull me away from the important work you have given me; help me stay focused, Lord, as Nehemiah refused to come down, saying, I am doing a great work.