Steadfast in the Face of Ridicule | Nehemiah 4:1-2

Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” — Nehemiah 4:1-2 SHOUT OUT: Andree Aiken from Columbus, GA. Thank you to Andree Aiken from Columbus, GA, for purchasing multiple copies of "Proverbs: A Strong Man is Wise" and distributing them to various men and ministry leaders nationwide. Your support for our ministry and commitment to nurturing men's growth is immensely appreciated. Chapters 4 to 6 of Nehemiah detail the multitude of challenges and opposition faced by Nehemiah during the building of the wall. These chapters are a must-read for leaders looking to develop their resilience in adversity. It’s important to note that the wall's construction continues through these chapters and only comes to completion in chapter 6. The opposition Nehemiah encounters comes from three primary sources: Sanballat, Tobiah, and Gesham. So I wanted to show this to you on a map. First, here is a general map of what the Persian empire might have looked like at the time. You see Babylonia to the far east on the map. This is the Capital city of the Empire, where Nehemiah served King Artaxerxes. Then, you will see Jerusalem on the west. Now, I am going to zoom in on this map. Here, I have labeled and shaded the opposing forces because they are regional leaders within the Persian Empire. Then, you will see this tiny dot. That's Jerusalem. Only about 42,000 people live there, building a 2.5-mile-long wall. Keep this in mind as you think about the persecution they are about to endure. For a moment, I want you to think about those proportions in light of the events happening in Israel today. Globally, there are approximately 15 million Jews. Now, compare this to the Muslim population, which stands at a staggering 1.8 billion. That's quite a contrast. In the video, I will put this up on another map for you. Do you see present-day Israel? It's that tiny sliver in the middle of your map. Out of those 15 million Jews, about half, which is roughly 7.1 million, live in the State of Israel today. Surrounding Israel, you will see large countries shaded in black. Those countries have populations that are 90-100% Muslim. I hope you get the picture. This brings us to a thought-provoking point about "proportionality." The sheer scale of difference in population sizes between these regions is immense. It's a disparity that mirrors the challenges faced during Nehemiah's time. Just as it was then, today's challenges are marked by a similar disproportionality, which is a testament to a smaller community's resilience and enduring spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. So, back to our text. The first round of opposition will come from Sanballat, the leader to the north. He knows he cannot interfere with Nehemiah's work because he has papers, permission, and provisions from the King of Persia. So he's a little frustrated. He is so worked up that he gets his people worked up, too. He is going to use ridicule to beat them down. Why? Because ridicule is a weapon of warfare. Ridicule undermines people and leaders by attacking their credibility. It reinforces conformity by mocking behaviors that deviate from popular norms. It incites shame and embarrassment, which can have a profound emotional effect on people. This happened to Nehemiah. It's happening on college campuses right now in much the same way. But ridicule is nothing new. It's used by governments, employers, unions, politicians, influencers, rock stars, satirists, and even bullies at school. To me, it feels like the world is saturated with bullies who've resorted to bully tactics. Brothers, this is our time. Right now in history, it is our time to let our belief in God shine through like never before. It's our call to step out of the shadows of shame boldly and hold firm to the mission God has set before us. We must be smart, strong, and unshakable in the face of ridicule without losing sight of our God-given purpose. In the chapters ahead, we will dig into how we can rise above these challenges. We'll dig into how people try to tear us down with their words of ridicule. Tomorrow, we're tackling the five types of attacks from those who mock what we stand for. Let’s gear up and stand tall. ASK THIS: In what ways have you encountered ridicule or opposition in your own life, and how did your faith help you to respond? Reflect on a specific instance and discuss how Nehemiah's example of perseverance and faith in the face of mockery can inspire us in similar situations. Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/