Not today, Satan!

Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.” The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows. Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. (Nehemiah 4:10-15)

As the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls was underway, all the families working side-by-side to get it done, the attacks begin. First, they come with words alone - taunting, teasing, ridiculing words. Isn't that just like our enemy? He wants to bring discouragement. He wants us to see the 'feebleness' of each step we take. The walls laid in ruins, requiring much removal of all the debris, then the restructuring of the walls once again. The debris must always be removed before anything new can be rebuilt. It makes the work tiresome, and our enemy will use the weariness of our bodies, minds, and souls to attempt to rob the strength of our spirit as well. 

Halfway through the work, the people tire, the taunts come louder, and a threat of imminent attack is brought to them. Jewish families living close to where the enemy encampments were heard not only the taunts of their enemy, but the battle plans they were ready to act upon. The enemy always tries to discourage the work of the Lord in our lives. If he cannot do it when we take the first steps toward obedience, he will work on us when we are right in the middle of that work. We can see the promise of an end because we see the blessing of the beginning. Yet, in the middle of the work, we can also see just how much is left to accomplish. 

At that juncture in God's work within us we might just need to hear those words to not be afraid of our enemy - to remember the Lord and fight. When our enemy sees that we are aware of his plans to attack, he can become very intimidated by our 'readiness' for war! The thing we might miss as we read through this account of the rebuilding is that Nehemiah called upon some to be watchful and vigilant for the attack, while others continued the work. Maybe the thing we need most in order to realize the breakthrough in our lives is the watchfulness and vigilance of those who will do battle for us. Some readied for battle - others built on. God's people protected by God's plans in the midst of all those threats. That's what we need! Just sayin!