That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. Nehemiah 6:2
Where was the plain of Ono, and why would Sanballat and Geshem want to have a meeting with Nehemiah there? Biblical geography shows Ono to be a town of Benjamin, about 50 kilometers from Jerusalem. That is a significant distance for Nehemiah to have to travel. And that distance represented several major problems. For one, that distance would place Nehemiah far beyond the protection of the soldiers and other armed help that was available in Jerusalem. It would also take him away from the important work that he was doing in the city. That is exactly why Sanballat and Geshem wanted Nehemiah to go there. He would be an easy prey for them to capture, and even if they failed in that, they would have taken him away from the necessary work in Jerusalem. But Nehemiah saw through their plot and did not fall for the trap. He knew that meetings with the enemies of God are at best a waste of time and at worst a peril for the soul. That is an important lesson Christians today.
The world loves to get Christians involved in its organizations and programs. The devil thinks it’s a great idea too. As long as we are involved with the affairs of any service club or political party or community group we are not involved in helping to spread the Gospel or in witnessing to our friends and neighbours or in visiting sick or discouraged Christians or in helping with things associated with the Assembly or in studying the Word of God or prayer. That sounds like a nice victory for our enemies and a sound defeat for us in our testimony for God. Involvement in the affairs of the world also brings us closer to activities and attitudes that are actually opposed to the Word of God. It means compromise, and compromise in matters related to God and His Word is never good.
Because he recognized the danger, Nehemiah never went to the plain of Ono despite receiving four invitations to a meeting there. Sanballat and Gesham were unhappy about that, but Nehemiah didn’t mind that. Like Nehemiah, we need to get past the objections of worldly companions who claim to be disappointed when we don’t engage in activities or visit places that are wrong for a Christian. Most of the religious organizations around us like the idea of getting along with each other, and of doing things together despite differences in doctrine. Sadly, they find that the cooperation and amalgamation drag them further and further from the truth, and most of them have abandoned the truth and have embraced great error. The same will happen to us if we listen to the invitations to attend their meetings and to join their fellowships.
Just as Nehemiah found, the Lord’s people are kept safe by avoiding anything that interferes with the the Lord’s work. -Jim MacIntosh