Nehemiah 6: Facing Intimidation
USING POWER TO create pressure is a very effective way to get at people, especially if they are not sure of themselves or what they should be doing. However, if the objects of intimidation are quite confident in what they are doing, they may not be at all bothered by this approach.
Nehemiah had wrestled with God so thoroughly about what he was doing in building the wall that he was not sidetracked by attempts to call him away from the work. When someone reacts like Nehemiah, then the intimidator must become more and more threatening. It eventually boils down to who can intimidate the most or who is the most confident in what God's will is for the occasion. Notice in this chapter that Nehemiah doesn't give in to the intimidation.
Warming Up to God
Think of a time when you had to be aggressive to fight for something you thought was right. How did you feel and act? Write down your ideas and compare them to the actions of Nehemiah.
Read Nehemiah 6. »
Discovering the Word
- List all the efforts at intimidation in this chapter.
- What kind of divided loyalties do you find in the people building the wall?
- From this chapter, what guiding principles does Nehemiah give about how to cooperate with other religious groups?
- How do the circumstances in verses 17-19 make it difficult for Nehemiah to keep his objectives clear?
Applying the Word
- How is the work God has called you to do a "great work" and worthy of your full attention?
- How could your vision be made great and clear enough so that you will not be easily sidetracked (vv. 3, 8 and 11)?
- What do you expect by way of opposition in the job you are doing for the Lord?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to give you singlemindedness and determination as you work to proclaim his truth to those around you.
For Further Study
LeadershipNext by Eddie Gibbs