“Sanballat the Horonite…” is the enemy we would expect. He’s from the outside. He was a pagan Moabite. He was also from the government, but he wasn’t there to help Nehemiah. The Moabites were one of the groups that God’s people ran out of the Promised Land. Moabites like Sanballat worshiped Chemosh an idol who required the sacrifice of little babies. Sanballat would have also worshipped Baal-Peor, which required all manner of sexual immorality, but above all else, homosexual acts were the primary sacrament. It shouldn’t surprise us one bit that a government official like Sanballat would oppose the building project for the glory of the One True God. Sanballat’s spiritual life was devoted to the sacrifice of babies and to sexual immorality, especially homosexuality, and God forbids all of it!
And that’s true history. But is there some relevant parallel for us to apply? Does Sanballat’s spiritual heritage of baby killing and sexual immorality have any importance for us today? I’ll leave that to be settled between you and the Holy Spirit, but I ask you: Can you think of another time and another place where God and His people are being opposed by pagan government officials who enthusiastically support the bloody sacrifice of countless little babies and are who are exalting sexual immorality – especially homosexuality – with religious zeal? Can you think of another government that, like the Sanballat administration, is trying to persecute those who follow a God who believes in the sanctity of human life and sexual purity? Any of this ringing a bell at all?
