Geshem the Arabian

which teaches us that the combination of Christ-like character and the results of our ministries as those ministries of ours are connected to the Holy Spirit are capable of speaking louder than anything that is said about you or me.

Nehemiah didn't waste his time trying to convince Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem that he was a good guy and that he had the right motives and why he was doing what he was doing.

He just kept his hands white knuckled on the plow.

And when the time came, God, God showed up on his behalf.

He's rebuilding the wall.

And Sanballat and Geshem, they come by and they try to talk Nehemiah down.

They say, dude, come on down.

Come on down.

So this is how chapter six of Nehemiah begins.

Sanballat, Tobiah, we saw those characters last week, and Geshem the Arab and the rest of the enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and no gaps remained, though we had not yet set up the doors and the gates.

So it's a picture of the same.

The wall is up, there's no gaps anymore.

It's a flattering invitation.

Listen to this.

Sanballat, remember, he's one of the enemies, and Gershom sent me this message.

Come, let's meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.

Look at verse one with me, Nehemiah six.

"Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it, although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates." What is Nehemiah revealing to us here? The near completion of this project.

The walls are rebuilt.

The damage has been repaired.

And so I wanna look at these truths more carefully.

Let's begin by looking at the first three verses of chapter six.

Now, when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it, although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, "Come, let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do me harm.

And I sent messengers to them saying, "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down.

Quickly.

In verse, chapter six, that, uh, in, "Now it came to pass when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian," all right, "and the rest of our enemies heard that I build the wall, and that there was no breach left," though at that time I had not yet done the doors on the...

He had not...

He had built the wall, but not the gates.

And we're going to read 1 through 4.

Now, it happens when Sanbalat, Tobiah, Geshem, and Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no breaks in it left, though at the time I had not hung the doors in the gates, that...

So I sent a message to them saying, I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down.

Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you? But they sent me this message four times and I answered them in the same manner.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before the fifth time with an open letter in his hand.

In it was written, It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel.

Therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall that you may be their king, and you also have appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, there is a king in Judah.

Now these matters will be reported to the king.

It says this.

Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall, this is Nehemiah speaking, and there was no breach left in it, although up to that time I had not set up the doors and the gates, Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, come and let us meet together at Hakafirim in the plain of Ono.

But they intended to do me harm.

And I sent messages to them saying, I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.

This is in Nehemiah 2, 19 to 20.

But when Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem and Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and they despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I, And said, But ye have no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem.

Now, this is the book of Nehemiah.

God told Nehemiah to leave his cushy job in the kingdom.

Look what happens.

Now, when Sanbalat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it, although up to that time I had not set up the doors and the gates, Sanbalat and Geshem sent to me saying, come let us meet together at Hakafirim in the plain of Ono.

But they intended to do me harm.

And I sent messengers to them saying, I'm doing a great work and I cannot come down.

We'll try something else.

We'll slander him instead.

In it was written, it is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, which basically means Geshem says it, and I pretended the nations said it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel.

That is why you are building the wall.