"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." (Neh. 6:1-2)

There is an old fable which states that a hunter raised his rifle and took careful aim at a large bear. When about to pull the trigger, the bear spoke in a soft soothing voice, "Isn't it better to talk than to shoot? What do you want? Let us negotiate the matter." Lowering his rifle, the hunger replied, "I want a fur coat." "Good," said the bear, "that is a negotiable question. I only want a full stomach, so let us negotiate a compromise." They sat down to negotiate, and after a long time the bear walked away alone. The negotiations had been successful. The bear had a full stomach, and the hunter had a fur coat!

Nehemiah refused to meet with Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem in the plains of Ono because he had nothing to negotiate or compromise with them. There is no room for negotiation or compromise in our stand for God's truth and righteousness.