Two-Minute Manna

Sanballat’s name literally means “thorn in secret.” In other words, he was a pain - the Old Testament equivalent of Paul’s own thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7). A “Sanballat” was sent Paul’s way to keep him from being puffed up in pride, to keep him in a place of humility and brokenness. I wonder what “Sanballat” the Lord has sent you. Maybe you look at him as a big pain or at her as a real problem. But could it be that the person who seems to be poking you or breaking your heart is actually allowed by the Lord to cause you to do what we’ll see Nehemiah do - to pray? If so, Satan’s tactics will backfire because they will draw you closer to the Lord than you otherwise would have been.

There were plenty of Sanballats in Jesus’ day as well. When Jairus’ daughter was nearly dead, he asked Jesus to heal her. As they made their way to his house, they found mourners weeping and wailing. Jesus looked at Jairus and said, “Don’t believe them. This isn’t the end of the story. She’s just sleeping.” When the people heard this, Matthew tells us they laughed Jesus to scorn (9:24).

Maybe at one time a promise was given to you - something you know the Lord has placed on your heart or a promise in the Word that practically jumped off the page. But now it seems dead. All you hear are voices inside that mock and laugh. You must do what Jesus did, for it wasn’t until Jesus sent the mockers packing that resurrection took place. If you have a promise from the Lord that seems dead and hopeless, the Lord would say to you, “Move out the mockers. Send the voices of cynicism and the whispers of doubt packing.”

In the early days of Elisha’s ministry, there was a group of young men who laughed at him, calling him a bald-headed man. What did Elisha do? He cursed them in the name of the Lord - and they were immediately devoured by bears (2 Kings 2). When doubts come our way in the temple of our spirit, saying, “It’s not going to come about. It’s too late. You’re too old, bald-headed man,” send the bears of the Word upon them. Tell them that all things are still working together for good (Romans 8:28). Tell them that God will indeed complete that which He began (Philippians 1:6). Move out the mockers by standing on the Word of God. And then watch resurrection life surge into the promise that He gave you.