In the world of business and career, it is not uncommon to face invitations to work together that seem profitable but are actually very risky. The offer seems like a great opportunity, but upon closer examination, there are traps that could thwart the effort. This is similar to Nehemiah’s experience when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He faced attacks in various forms, including deception and threats, but God’s wisdom protected him from the enemy’s traps.

Nehemiah received intimidating messages that were also likely traps. The first was a deceptive invitation to meet in the Valley of Ono (Nehemiah 6:1-4). Sanballat and Geshem tried to distract Nehemiah by pretending to offer negotiations, but they actually intended to harm him. Nehemiah showed spiritual discernment by rejecting the invitation, because he knew that the work he was doing was important to God’s people. The second was slander and threats (Nehemiah 6:5-9). Sanballat sent an open letter accusing Nehemiah of having personal ambitions to become king and rebelling against Persia. This accusation was not only intended to scare Nehemiah, but also to damage his reputation before King Artaxerxes. However, Nehemiah did not waste time defending himself at length. He simply answered firmly that all the accusations were untrue and submitted everything to God through prayer.

Nehemiah remained focused on the task given by God, namely the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. Historical facts show that the wall of Jerusalem built by Nehemiah is a symbol of the restoration of the Israelites after the exile. Nehemiah not only built the wall physically but also rebuilt the spirit and faith of his people. His determination is an example that in carrying out God's mission, there will definitely be challenges and disturbances, but with steadfast faith and prayer, we can complete the tasks given to us.

Bible friends, in work, ministry, or personal life, there may be challenges that try to hinder our success. There may be parties who try to bring us down in various ways. Even the temptation is sometimes wrapped in such a sweet package that we do not realize its danger. Therefore, learning from the story of Nehemiah, we must also have wisdom or spiritual discernment to distinguish which is truly from God and which is a challenge or temptation. One way to deal with it is to stay focused on God's calling, not be easily influenced by external pressure, and always rely on God through prayers that are sincerely offered to Him.