Nehemiah 4:3
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
Tobiah the Ammonite stood by Sanballat among the neighboring leaders who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall and tried to hinder the plans. He joined Sanballat in mocking the builders with the contemptuous claim that the stone wall they were building was so weak that even a fox going up on it would break it down. The same taunt is counted among the ridicule that claimed the work was so frail that a fox climbing it would bring it down.
The taunt was meant to ridicule the builders and their work, to make even sacred work an object of scorn, to portray the rebuilding as hopeless and impossible, and to discourage the Jews from continuing so as to hinder the work. This derision and reproach from open enemies shows that people doing work God has given them may face discouragement, reproach and scorn from enemies and also from professed friends and helpers. The opposition that made rebuilding difficult included hostility from enemies while those who appeared to be friends secretly aided evil and supplied the enemies with material for their attacks. The contempt shown can give way to more cruel and violent measures when an opportunity arises.
Nehemiah answered the reproach with prayer to God, and God heard his prayers, opened the way forward, and worked through kings to carry out His purpose even while enemies worked against him. The hindrances Nehemiah faced, to which this mockery belonged, illustrate difficulties like those in moving the publishing work from Battle Creek, where hindrances could make the work seem nearly stopped. The hatred, falsehood and treachery shown in mocking the work stands beside the nobility, devotion and self-sacrifice of Ezra and Nehemiah as a sharp and striking contrast between sin and holiness. The contrast is set forth so that by beholding sin and holiness together, viewers may shun the one and accept the other. Everyone is left free to copy either example as he chooses and must decide for himself whether to suffer the fearful results of transgressing God's commands or to enjoy the blessings resulting from obedience.