When people are obedient to God’s commands, God blesses their effort. God’s blessing always gets the attention of the Devil who is constantly seeking to destroy God’s work and to bring a reproach to God’s name. Nehemiah knew that the local officials, who were Satan’s tools to frustrate the people of God from doing the work of God, had stopped the work.(Ezra 4) Unfortunately we face different facets of society who are willing instruments of the Devil today as well. Knowing this is the Devil’s plan, Nehemiah planned to deal with this opposition. His plan was born out of much prayer, passion, and preparation. He seeks permission and authority from the king for three requests:
- Please permit me!
- Please protect me!
- Please provide for me!
We too can frustrate those who oppose God’s work, when we act upon the authority of our King!