This is a true story.
On Thursday, July 8, 2021, the night’s silence was shattered by the overhead noise of at least 2 helicopters in a very quiet neighborhood. These were not police helicopters. The noise was so loud that it woke up several residents in the neighborhood and they came out of their homes. The helicopters flew so low that their undercarriage was visible. They didn’t just fly past, but flew to and fro, several times.
What was perhaps more significant was the fact that a car drove up to one of the houses and delivered a young child to one of the houses. With so much going on, everyone kept wondering what was going on. Shortly before dawn, that is after about 2 hours of flying, the helicopters flew away. Unfortunately, this was not just a one-time event. The helicopters came back the next night, and the next and the next. After that, they were replaced by aeroplanes that were less noisy but clearly visible. This continued for the next 7 months, from July 2021 till about February 2022.
The planes sometimes came as early as 10 pm. On some days, there were several planes, and as they flew towards the neighborhood, they looked like planes taking off from a war zone. They sometimes took off about 2 minutes apart, as they returned to wherever they were coming from to repeat the cycle again and again. Sometimes, they came to the neighborhood 4 or 5 times a week. They sometimes flew so low, right above the houses. When closely observed by residents, they sometimes flew into the clouds to hide, but always came back again and again.
In addition to these planes, there were several drones and other equipments left overhead in the sky. Just as they started suddenly, they stopped suddenly. This has been a source of wonder and speculation. It also raises a lot of questions.
-What was the purpose of these exercises?
-Who is behind it and much more importantly, who authorized it?
-Who is being targeted?
-Why did this happen and continue for 7 months?
-Who benefits from this obvious waste of taxpayer’s money?
-Who should be held accountable for this?
Artificial intelligence is an emerging technology and can be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. It can be used as a weapon of fear to make the innocent afraid.
In the book of Nehemiah, we read about how Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the king had a burden to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Even though he was in exile in the citadel of Shushan, he sought the permission of king Artaxexes to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. As with every good project, he was met strong opposition because of his noble cause. In Nehemiah 2:10:
“When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.” NKJV
Nehemiah rallied the Jews left behind to rise and build the walls of Jerusalem. He however rejected the help of Sanballat and Tobiah. They were so angry with him, and they mocked him. In Nehemiah 2:17-20:
“Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” So, I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore, we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.” NKJV
Even when faced with a strong opposition from their enemies, Nehemiah and his helpers fought on. In Nehemiah 4:1-9:
“But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.” Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. So, we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.” NKJV
In order to get the job done, half of the builders worked, whilst the other half stood by to defend them. In Nehemiah 4: 15-16:
“And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.” NKJV
When the enemies realized that despite their efforts, the rebuilding of the wall was progressing at a great speed, they did what enemies did best. They conspired against Nehemiah and the builders of the walls of Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 6:1-14:
“Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. So, I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!”
Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this reason, he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.” NKJV
Despite all the attacks and intrigues surrounding the construction of the walls of Jerusalem, the builders completed the project in record time, in just 52 days! Just as expected, their enemies were not very happy about the outcome of the project. In Nehemiah 6:15-16:
“So, the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.” NKJV
So, what lessons can we learn from this? In life you can be sure that some people will always oppose you, no matter what. Just like Nehemiah did, you should not dwell on the opposition, but work hard to do the will of God.
Remember what Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18:
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” NKJV
Invitation to Salvation.
Jesus is calling you today. He is saying to you:
“Come to me all who are tired from carrying your heavy loads and I will give you rest”. Mathew 11:28
If you want to accept this invitation, pray to God. You can say something like this:
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I confess my sins before you today. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to know you personally.I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in and be my Lord and personal Savior.Take control of my life.Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.Make me the kind of person that you want me to be. In Jesus name I have prayed. Amen.”
If you have sincerely put your trust in Jesus to be your Savior, welcome to the household of God!
