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Opportunities & Obstacles
by Sam Nadler “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it
was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the
sons of Israel”
(Nehemiah 2:10).
Up until this point Nehemiah’s plan seemed to go without a hitch.
Artaxerxes, king of Persia, had approved Nehemiah’s plan to rebuild the wall
around Jerusalem, and had provided him with the travel permits and building
materials needed to get the job done (2:5-9).
Now in Jerusalem, some of the local leaders that had a different
political (and spiritual) agenda found Nehemiah's assistance less than
desirable, in fact they found it very displeasing.
To Nehemiah, this had previously seemed like such an open door.
Why were Sanballat and Tobiah resisting him?
As others have learned, where there is opportunity there is also
opposition (1 Cor 16:10). Why were these ‘leaders’ displeased with him? He
was a reproach because he came "To seek the welfare of the sons of
Israel".
Nehemiah learns that when you seek the welfare of the sons of Israel, you
also take on the displeasure and reproach of Israel's enemies. Their enemies
become your enemies. (Nehemiah 1:3, 2:17)
Identifying
with God’s People
Many today want to identify with the Jewish people for
"blessing", not realizing by doing so they also take on the reproach
of God's people.
An evangelical pastor in New Jersey did not want to have his church
overtly reach out to the Jews in his area.
Why?
Because the Muslims in the area would be upset with his church if he
cared ‘too much’ for the Jews.
Like Nehemiah, God is preparing you for His service when you willingly
bear His reproach. Wasn't this the case with Moses?
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of
God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of
Messiah greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the
reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Please notice that “to endure ill-treatment with the people of God”
is paralleled to "the reproach of Messiah". Identification with God's
people is identification with God's program.
To identify with God's people redemptively is to identify with God's
redemption in Messiah, the Passover Lamb.
In fact, because the Jewish people are instrumentally part of God's
redemptive program, they therefore are a reproach to an unbelieving world (Psalm
83:1-5, Gen. 12:3, John 4:22, Rom. 9:5).
All who truly identify with the Lord bear His reproach. “Therefore
Yeshua also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered
outside the gate.
So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” (Heb.
13:12,13)
A
Package Deal: Blessing & Reproach
Those that are part of God's ministry to the Jewish people are
identifying for blessing and also with reproach. Paul, an apostle to the
Gentiles,
said the Good News is to the Jew first.
Therefore taking Paul’s example, all congregations and churches should
seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.
When you become a prayer partner with Word of Messiah Ministries, you
seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.
You’re helping to share the Good News of Messiah.
However, when you seek to please God you will displease His enemies,
particularly the main
enemy of the Jews: Satan, the adversary.
Though your commitment to the lost sheep of the house of Israel will make
you a target for Satan, know that
God's grace is your sufficiency and the battle is the Lord's.
God allows this reproach to evidence those that are His (see 2 Tim 3:12).
Unfortunately, some are a reproach for living in disobedience and dishonor to
the Lord (Psalm 39:8, Ezekiel 22:4).
Are you a reproach to God's Name or a reproach for God's name?
Do you seek the welfare of the sons of Israel?
(Nehemiah 2:4-9).
Point
of Commitment - Point of Attack
To
the degree you are committed to that degree you will bear His reproach and face
conflict.
As Yeshua
came to save the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew
10:5) so also He is seeking others who will seek the welfare of the sons of
Israel.
God
allows problems and problem people
to challenge us to demonstrate the sufficiency of His grace. Therefore
let us trust, trod and triumph to His glory and the furtherance of the Great
News of Messiah- “even to the Jew first.”
Shalom.
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