My son was a construction engineer whose first job was rebuilding the Goethals Bridge, a reconstruction project over the waterway between New Jersey and Staten Island. It had originally been built in 1928 and named in honor of Colonel George Washington Goethals, who was responsible for the completion of the Panama Canal. The climate and geography of the region were two large obstacles to completing the canal. But his biggest challenge was the growing criticism back home by those who said he would never finish the project. At one point a colleague asked him if he was going to reply to his critics.
“In time,
,” answered Goethals.
“When?”
“When the canal is finished.”
It seems a given in human experience that where armed conflict is not an option, the war of words is the easiest weapon in the personal arsenal. Certainly, Nehemiah found that to be true in the conflict with Sanballat. This Samaritan was so angry about the restoration of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple (remember that the Samaritans had their own worship at Mt Gerizim) that while he couldn’t immediately go to battle against the King-endorsed rebuilding, he was livid and lashed out with words in psychological warfare first.
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?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” Nehemiah 4:1-3
Sanballat decided to mock the Jewish workers by speaking so loudly to his small army that it could be heard by those building the wall. He wanted to intimidate them and cause them to hesitate to finish what they had started. Where he failed was in forgetting that one might be concerned with an angry man if he is rational, but most disregard someone who has let go of his senses. He was “greatly enraged” and irrational anger loses an argument before it even begins. No one takes them seriously. Nehemiah understood that a war of words is just that – words that cannot in and of themselves stop anything unless they are given a hearing and credence. “Sanballat and his mob, in effect, conducted a loud and noisy rally, complete with taunts and epithets.” (Zakheim, p89)
“In time,
,” answered Goethals.
“When?”
“When the canal is finished.”
It seems a given in human experience that where armed conflict is not an option, the war of words is the easiest weapon in the personal arsenal. Certainly, Nehemiah found that to be true in the conflict with Sanballat. This Samaritan was so angry about the restoration of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple (remember that the Samaritans had their own worship at Mt Gerizim) that while he couldn’t immediately go to battle against the King-endorsed rebuilding, he was livid and lashed out with words in psychological warfare first.
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?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” Nehemiah 4:1-3
Sanballat decided to mock the Jewish workers by speaking so loudly to his small army that it could be heard by those building the wall. He wanted to intimidate them and cause them to hesitate to finish what they had started. Where he failed was in forgetting that one might be concerned with an angry man if he is rational, but most disregard someone who has let go of his senses. He was “greatly enraged” and irrational anger loses an argument before it even begins. No one takes them seriously. Nehemiah understood that a war of words is just that – words that cannot in and of themselves stop anything unless they are given a hearing and credence. “Sanballat and his mob, in effect, conducted a loud and noisy rally, complete with taunts and epithets.” (Zakheim, p89)
How do you respond to your critics? Maybe you feel as a public servant a little like the following:
In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus is curled up in a chair, reading a book, while Lucy stands behind him with a funny look on her face. Lucy then says, “It’s very strange. It happens just by looking at you.” “What happens?” Linus asks. Lucy calmly answers, “I can feel a criticism coming on.” The most human thing to do is to respond and to defend ourselves, forgetting that words of themselves are not able to stop anyone. Usually we respond in defense of ourselves when we’ve made the issue about ourselves. When do you find it hardest to “restrain your lips” and not lash out under criticism?
Only those who see the greater good at stake, and a greater God at work can resist the natural inclination to speak in response. It is always time to be surrendered and at peace with God and focused on His will, so that you are guided by His Spirit in your emotions and reactions. “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Ps. 119:165. Are your emotions harnessed by the character of God within you? What must you do to gain that?
“Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.” Neh. 4:4-5
Coupled with a focus on the will of God and the cause of God, Nehemiah was quick to call on God for His sovereign protection. It was the correct place to turn when unjustly accused. You should take notice that Nehemiah was hurt, felt despised, and he was frustrated! But he vented to God first, and found his emotional and spiritual footing so that he could walk well in the real fight that he was in. In fact, his prayer was in the tradition of King David who wrote some strong imprecatory songs in the Jewish Psalm book. In these Psalms …
David prays that evil would
befall his and/or the people’s persecutors because they were withstanding God himself.
It is not for us to call down fire upon our enemies; Jesus called corrected his disciples who tried that. The truth is, we often hold to positions that might find one day are not the perfect will of God. In politics, we must be careful to elevate civil policy to the level of Divine will, unless it is clear moral policy at stake. On a personal level, we should learn to go to God and draw upon His grace, or correct anything that is deserving of fair criticism. During the Civil War someone reported to Abraham Lincoln that Edwin Stanton, one of the President’s cabinet members, had referred to him as a fool. Mr. Lincoln replied, “Well, I must check into that, for I have found that he is usually correct in his judgments.”
“So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” Nehemiah 4:6
In the end, the most respected and most followed leaders are those who are unflappable, who press on as if there was no criticism even when there is. Jesus so perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” You and I are called to be like Jesus in spirit and character. We cannot say; “Well, that’s just who I am” when spouting off at others. We also cannot say, “Well, you have no idea what it’s like to be in the political arena.” Jesus was in the crucible of political crosshairs, yet he behaved under the grace of the Father. So should we, whether in or out of politics. We all have critics. And we all have a Heavenly Father who grants grace and guides in the affairs of humanity. Let’s trust Him and keep on building lives for His glory!
In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus is curled up in a chair, reading a book, while Lucy stands behind him with a funny look on her face. Lucy then says, “It’s very strange. It happens just by looking at you.” “What happens?” Linus asks. Lucy calmly answers, “I can feel a criticism coming on.” The most human thing to do is to respond and to defend ourselves, forgetting that words of themselves are not able to stop anyone. Usually we respond in defense of ourselves when we’ve made the issue about ourselves. When do you find it hardest to “restrain your lips” and not lash out under criticism?
Only those who see the greater good at stake, and a greater God at work can resist the natural inclination to speak in response. It is always time to be surrendered and at peace with God and focused on His will, so that you are guided by His Spirit in your emotions and reactions. “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Ps. 119:165. Are your emotions harnessed by the character of God within you? What must you do to gain that?
“Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.” Neh. 4:4-5
Coupled with a focus on the will of God and the cause of God, Nehemiah was quick to call on God for His sovereign protection. It was the correct place to turn when unjustly accused. You should take notice that Nehemiah was hurt, felt despised, and he was frustrated! But he vented to God first, and found his emotional and spiritual footing so that he could walk well in the real fight that he was in. In fact, his prayer was in the tradition of King David who wrote some strong imprecatory songs in the Jewish Psalm book. In these Psalms …
David prays that evil would
befall his and/or the people’s persecutors because they were withstanding God himself.
It is not for us to call down fire upon our enemies; Jesus called corrected his disciples who tried that. The truth is, we often hold to positions that might find one day are not the perfect will of God. In politics, we must be careful to elevate civil policy to the level of Divine will, unless it is clear moral policy at stake. On a personal level, we should learn to go to God and draw upon His grace, or correct anything that is deserving of fair criticism. During the Civil War someone reported to Abraham Lincoln that Edwin Stanton, one of the President’s cabinet members, had referred to him as a fool. Mr. Lincoln replied, “Well, I must check into that, for I have found that he is usually correct in his judgments.”
“So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” Nehemiah 4:6
In the end, the most respected and most followed leaders are those who are unflappable, who press on as if there was no criticism even when there is. Jesus so perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” You and I are called to be like Jesus in spirit and character. We cannot say; “Well, that’s just who I am” when spouting off at others. We also cannot say, “Well, you have no idea what it’s like to be in the political arena.” Jesus was in the crucible of political crosshairs, yet he behaved under the grace of the Father. So should we, whether in or out of politics. We all have critics. And we all have a Heavenly Father who grants grace and guides in the affairs of humanity. Let’s trust Him and keep on building lives for His glory!
