Our God Will Fight for Us
Wherever God is at work, the devil is there, too. This has been true since the beginning of time. Shortly after God created Adam and Eve, the serpent deceived them. As a result, God cursed the serpent, Eve, and Adam. But within that curse came a promise:
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
This judgment pointed forward to Jesus Christ—“the seed of the woman”—who would one day crush the head of the serpent. Jesus delivered the death blow at the cross and secured victory through His resurrection.
But between the curse and the cross, spiritual warfare rages. The devil opposes God’s plan, even as he tried to prevent the coming and work of Christ at every turn. So it’s no surprise to find constant opposition throughout the Bible—including in the book of Nehemiah.
Key Idea: God’s work involves both offensive progress and defensive resistance.
And here’s the gospel thread: God does not just fight with us—He fights for us. Ultimately, Christ is the One who wins the battle. This theme runs from Genesis to Revelation. One of the enemy’s favorite tactics is discouragement, often delivered through other people.
In Ezra 4, Satan used deception, confusion, and intimidation to stall the people from rebuilding the temple. And, in Nehemiah 4, he stirs up fresh opposition as God’s people rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
In Ezra 3, we saw a beautiful scene of unity: priests, rulers, craftsmen—even daughters—joined to build the wall and its gates. Everyone had a role. Their faithfulness testified that there were no little people and no little tasks in God’s kingdom. In just 52 days, they completed the work.
But Nehemiah 4 shows us how the devil’s servants tried to stop God’s work—and how God’s people responded with faith, resolve, and dependence on God. Here, we see three ways to respond to the devil’s opposition.
Accept the Reality of Ongoing Opposition and Discouragement
Nehemiah introduces two familiar opponents: Sanballat and Tobiah. He first mentioned them in Nehemiah 2:10 – “It displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.” Now, in chapter 4, they return with open ridicule. Their insults were intended to stop the work through discouragement.
v. 1 – “Sanballat… was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.”
v. 3 – Tobiah mocks, “If a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall!”
Jesus understands—He faced relentless ridicule. “He saved others; he cannot save himself.” (Mark 15:31) The crowds laughed. The soldiers spit. Satan sneered. But Jesus didn’t quit—He pressed on to win our salvation. So when people mock your obedience or belittle your faith, remember this: you’re walking the same road your Savior walked. And He’s walking with you.
Appeal to God for Help and Leave Justice in His Hands
Nehemiah prays while moving forward: “Hear, O our God, for we are despised… Do not cover their guilt…” (vv. 4-5). This imprecatory prayer is a raw cry for justice.
Jesus did the same. On the cross, He cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” quoting Psalm 22. Because of His death, we can trust that no injustice will go unpunished.
v. 6 – “So we built the wall… for the people had a mind to work.”
v. 9 – “And we prayed to our God and set a guard…”
That’s the pattern: Pray and post a guard. Trust God, and take action. Keep your eyes on the Lord—and your hand on the plow.
Admonish Discouraged Co-workers to Remember the Lord and Fight for His Cause
Verse 10 shows the people are tired. The rubble is overwhelming. But Nehemiah says, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight.”
v. 15 – “God frustrated their plan.”
v. 16 – Half worked, half guarded.
v. 18 – Builders carried swords.
v. 20 – “Our God will fight for us.”
Don’t let the enemy steal your resolve. Fight for your family. Fight for the gospel. We are not just wall-builders—we are cross-bearers. We don’t just hold a trowel—we wear the armor of God. We must “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11).
Jesus has already won. One day soon, the opposition will end. Until then, we fight the good fight of faith—not alone, but with this truth resonating in our hearts: “Our God will fight for us.”
