Adult Bible Study May 18, 2008

Lesson Text: Nehemiah 4:1-3, 7-9, 13-15; 6:15
By Ken Hawkley
E-mail: louise050@comcast.net

I remember once hearing a story about a town in Denmark during World War II that stopped the Nazi army cold. The townspeople simply refused to cooperate in any way with the Nazi military and officials. Stores were closed, homes and schools were shut down, and no cooperation was given to the soldiers. After a short period of time, this nonviolent resistance succeeded when the army completely withdrew from the village. This story demonstrates how a small group of people can confront and overcome evil.

The seeming simplicity of the choice made is only so in hindsight. The same has been true for this story of Sanballat and Tobiah. We have understood this to be a simple, forthright situation about the evil foreigners threatening the weaker, but infinitely more righteous, Israelites. I am thankful to Perry B. Yoder for “muddying the waters” by letting us in on some of the complexities behind this story. This makes it a much more hopeful reference for me.

Many people I know are for freeing Tibet from the “tyranny” of China. However, according to a new report, the majority of Chinese people are not for the freedom of Tibet. It seems that the relationship between China and Tibet is much more complex than what we have heard on the news. Is the fight for a free Tibet a good thing or not? Will it result in good things or not? Perhaps the main thing is to learn as much as we can and make our decision.

Do we believe in the cause of a free Tibet? Or a free Georgia (former USSR region)? Or a free Kurdish country? Or a free Quebec? It once was said that no army can defeat an idea whose time has come. Is that another way of saying that when a sincere group of small people act in accord, God’s will is done? Maybe that depends on whether you are a Sanballat or a Nehemiah.