“But I said, ‘Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.’ And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.” (Nehemiah 6:11-13)
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Sanballat knew that fear is a powerful force. It lurks in the shadows of the unknown and undermines our every action. It floods the soul with questions and anxiety. What if I can’t do this? What if I fail? What if I lose everything? Am I being a fool? Fear betrays our insecurities and exposes our weaknesses. It’s a pessimist that fights against our hope by making us see only negative possibilities.
Nehemiah saw past the deception. He knew that the consequences of acting in fear were worse than anything that fear could imagine. By acting in fear, he would have run away from his responsibilities, he would have went to a place that was forbidden for him, he would have sinned against God and tarnished his reputation with the people who followed him.
But Nehemiah refused to act in fear. Not that he was never afraid, but he didn’t allow his fear to control him or to determine his actions. He knew that Sanballat and Tobiah were plotting to kill him; he knew that Shemaiah, a man who ought to have been his friend, was working for them. And yet, Nehemiah didn’t think his life is worth saving if it meant compromise. Instead, he did as he always did: he prayed that God would take care of it and then went on about his business (Nehemiah 6:14-15).
How was Nehemiah able to look the threat of death in the face and turn his back on it? How did he overcome his fear? Notice the two questions Nehemiah asks in verse 11, specifically the phrase he repeats about himself: “such a man as I…man such as I.” The key to Nehemiah’s courage was found in his understanding of who he was, both in relationship to people and in relationship to God.
Nehemiah’s first question was, “Should such a man as I run away?” What kind of man was he that it would have been unacceptable for him to run away? He was the leader of the people, the man responsible for the completion of the wall. He understood that he had undertaken a great task that would require a lot of effort to keep the people motivated. He had already had to deal with multiple issues that distracted the workers and drew them off task. He had urged them when they were idle, encouraged them when they were discouraged, rebuked them when they were disruptive, and praised them for their sacrifice and dedication. What, then, would become of the people and the wall that they were building if Nehemiah ran away? Worse than being without a leader, they would have a leader who demonstrated to everyone that nothing he had said was a reality for him. So because Nehemiah was in a position of honor, authority, and responsibility, he could not and would not run away.
Nehemiah’s second question was, “And what man such as I could go into the temple and live?” What kind of man was he that it would have been unacceptable for him to hide in the temple? The answer is not the same as the answer to the last question. There, Nehemiah stressed his position of honor and authority. Here, the stress is on his lowliness and sinfulness. Yes, he was a man who was above other men, but even more important, he was a man who was infinitely below God. God had not permitted him to enter the temple, only priests were to do so. Nehemiah’s position of authority over people did not give him the authority to disregard God’s instructions. So he would not act in fear of Sanballat. The fear of God displaced the fear of man.
If we are to overcome fear in following God, we must learn to cultivate a view of ourselves that takes in both of these aspects. Christians are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that [we] may proclaim [God's] excellencies” (1 Peter 2:9). We are called to live in such a way that when unbelievers speak evil against us and try to make us afraid, they might see our “good works and glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). We need to know the great honor that God has given us in calling us by his name, to display His glory in a world that is ignorant of it. Should those who have been honored like this disregard their calling and cower in fear? Certainly not!
Along with this, we need to cultivate a proper understanding of our position before God. We have, indeed, been called by his name. But we have not been made God's equals. God is still holy, and he requires us to be holy like Him. We call Him Father, but He will still judge the way we live. We must still “conduct [ourselves] with fear throughout the time of [our] exile” (1 Peter 1:15-17). Can a person who is intimately aware of his Father’s presence carelessly disregard His promises and precepts? Will he compromise his relationship and spurn the price with which he was purchased because of fear?
May the Lord deliver us from fear by teaching us who we are in Him!
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