2/25/2019 Rebecca Brown

Have you ever been manipulated through deception?

Everybody has been manipulated Everybody has been manipulated. But did you know you were being deceived or manipulated at the time?

Enemies in Nehemiah's Time Sanballat the Samaritan Tobiah the Ammonite NEHEMIAH Geshom the Arab Map Has Settlements of the Persian Province of Judah According to Ezra and Nehemiah (Logos Libronix Bible Maps, Mac edition, 2008) 8

Nehemiah 6:1-2 6 Once again, we found that our progress had been reported to our enemies. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab (as well as the rest of our adversaries) heard that under my leadership the wall had been rebuilt. Not one gap remained (though the doors still had to be hung on the gates). 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent messengers to me. Sanballat and Geshem’s Message: Come and meet with us in the plain of Ono, at the border village of Cheriphim. They were planning to hurt me.

The Plain of Ono

“Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.”

Satan still uses all sorts of innocent- sounding appeals to lure believers into a trap. When the enemy cannot intimidate us or defeat us, he always tries to deceive us, but his intent is to destroy us.

1 Peter 5:8 8 Most importantly, be disciplined and stay on guard 1 Peter 5:8 8 Most importantly, be disciplined and stay on guard. Your enemy the devil is prowling around outside like a roaring lion, just waiting and hoping for the chance to devour someone. John 10:10 10 The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy

3 So instead of going, I sent messengers back to them 3 So instead of going, I sent messengers back to them. Nehemiah’s Message: I am in the middle of a great work and cannot be interrupted. I am not coming down to meet with you. What is so important that I should suspend this great work we are doing to travel to see you? 4 This same exchange played out four different times: they asked for a meeting; I refused.

What was Nehemiah’s enemies’ strategy What was Nehemiah’s enemies’ strategy? What do you notice about the way Nehemiah responded?

Satan is relentlessly persistent in his schemes.

What lessons do you learn from him about avoiding deception What lessons do you learn from him about avoiding deception? What are your top priorities? How consistently do you live with your priorities? Why? How do clear priorities protect us?

5 The fifth time I was approached by a servant of Sanballat 5 The fifth time I was approached by a servant of Sanballat. He came with the same message, but this time he also carried an unsealed letter in his hand. Sanballat’s Letter: 6 A report has gone out to the surrounding nations that you are rebuilding the wall because you and your fellow Jews are planning to revolt against Persia. Geshem confirms this report and suggests you are looking to be crowned as king. Rumor has it 7 that you have even appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem, “Judah has a king!” referencing you. Be assured, this very report will make it back to King Artaxerxes. Meet with us at once.

An “Open Letter”

“It has been reported that Nehemiah plans to rebel against the King.” REBEL LEADER? Nehemiah

8 My message back to him was simple 8 My message back to him was simple. Nehemiah’s Message: There is nothing to what you are saying. You are making it all up. 9 We knew our enemies’ intent was to intimidate us into stopping our work. They reasoned, “These Jews will stop rebuilding out of fear and discouragement. Progress will grind to a halt.” Instead I renewed my dedication, strengthened my hands. (Voice) (O Lord God, please strengthen me!) (TLB)

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

Proverbs 26:2 “Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, so a curse without cause does not alight.”

What is Sanballat’s strategy What is Sanballat’s strategy? What do you notice about the way Nehemiah responds? Why might it have been tempting for Nehemiah to meet with Sanballat? What lessons do you learn from Nehemiah in this situation?

If you have been slandered unjustly, how did you respond to the challenge? What might you do differently in light of Nehemiah's example? How can maintaining a clear conscience protect us from deception?

Have you ever defamed or slandered someone else Have you ever defamed or slandered someone else? Have you ever passed on a rumor about someone else to others?

10 A little later, I went to see Shemaiah (Delaiah’s son and Mehetabel’s grandson) who was shut up inside his house. Shemaiah: It is not safe here. Let us leave and go into God’s house inside the temple and shut the doors. People are coming to kill you. They will come at night.

Nehemiah: 11 Why would a man in my position run for his life Nehemiah: 11 Why would a man in my position run for his life? Why would a person like me use the temple to save his life when such contact with God would surely kill me? I refuse to go into the temple under such circumstances. 12-13 While I was speaking these words, I realized God had not sent him to me. God would never tell me to break His laws. Shemaiah’s prophecy was “inspired” by the money of Tobiah and Sanballat. After hearing his message, they thought I would be scared and thus vulnerable to sin. They hoped to use such a lapse in behavior to discredit me.

Nehemiah realizes that Shemaiah is not speaking God’s word but is a traitor and a liar - that he was hired by Nehemiah’s enemies to scare Nehemiah into sinning so that they could discredit him and remove him from leadership. But how was Nehemiah able to so quickly recognize Shemaiah’s deception?

Because Shemaiah’s message contradicted the Scriptures Because Shemaiah’s message contradicted the Scriptures. “But you [Aaron] and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.” Numbers 18:7

In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, “If you continue in My word, you are truly my disciple and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

The power of sin is in its deceptiveness The power of sin is in its deceptiveness. That’s why we need the Scriptures to set us free. It’s only as we see what’s true from the Bible that we will be able to recognize the deceptions of the world, the flesh and the devil.

Have you ever been encouraged to do something by someone you trusted or thought was godly that you knew was wrong? What did you do and what might you do differently in light of Nehemiah's example?

Nehemiah: 14 O my God, remember these two: Tobiah and Sanballat Nehemiah: 14 O my God, remember these two: Tobiah and Sanballat. Remember what they have done. And do not forget their accomplices—the prophetess Noadiah and her prophetic associates—who have been trying to intimidate me.

“Remember, O my God, because of what they have done . . . .”

15 Even with all that interference, the wall was soon finished 15 Even with all that interference, the wall was soon finished. It was the 25th day of Elul. The work had been accomplished in 52 days. 16 When our enemies heard the work was complete and the surrounding nations saw our wall, their confidence crumbled. Only one possible conclusion could be drawn: it was not just our efforts that had done this thing. God had been working alongside us. 17 These developments caused a flurry of correspondence between the nobles of Judah and Tobiah.

18 Many of these nobles in Judah were tied to Tobiah by a marriage oath. Tobiah has married into Jewish families while living in Jerusalem as interim governor, although he serves Sanballat in Samaria. He was the son-in-law of Shecaniah (Arah’s son), and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam (Berechiah’s son). 19 These men constantly praised Tobiah in my presence, describing his good deeds to me. They also reported to Tobiah what I said. And still he sent me his letters; his attempts to intimidate me were ceaseless.

Why does Nehemiah add on the little postscript in vs. 17-19?

References Facing Deception -- John Bruce Resisting Satan’s Schemes – Stephen Cole Living Above Reproach -- Lewis Winkler