When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel. Nehemiah 2:10
I remember the first time I read Nehemiah and how the names Sanballat and Tobiah caught my eye. Their names keep reappearing because they are troublemakers.
Not only that, they also talk others into joining their cause.
Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”
Nehemiah 4:7-8 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.
These “enemies” actually invited Nehemiah to a meeting “but they thought to do me harm.” (Nehemiah 6: 2)
Followers of Christ will always have enemies. They will stand against scripture, against morality and virtue, against your church, and against you.
However I remind you, they are not against you – they are anti-Christ!
I also remind you of the encouragement of John the Apostle – and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:3-5