7/12/09

The trap

This is one very smart mouse. I always had the impression mice were "not so bright" and then this little fellow came along. How could he do the things he did? Motivation, pure and simple. Food is a great motivator. Somehow, I made the connection to Nehemiah. Nehemiah was also motivated, and went to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall; he led the Jews in rebuilding it, but he had to overcome a trap, just like our Wiley little mouse.

Neh 6:1-15
6 Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
4 They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6 in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would be their king, according to these words.
7 You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.
9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, God, strengthen you my hands.
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.
11 I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.WEB

Make no mistake, the task before Nehemiah was great. But he showed courage; first in asking the king for permission to go, then in the face of danger before they even started to build and finally against his person. His determination and faith pushed him onwards until the task was completed. I think that there is a lesson here for all of us and it has nothing to do with cheese and everything to do with faith and trust in God. So, the next time you are faced with a spiritual obstacle, remember this little video and the story of Nehemiah and do the right thing. You will be glad you did and Satan will just have to work harder on a better mousetrap. Don't worry though, God will always show you a way out!