Nehemiah moved into action when he heard about the state of his ancestral city, Jerusalem. At the time, Nehemiah was a Jewish official who served in a Persian court. The fact that he picked up everything and went to says a lot and demonstrates his deep commitment to his people and his faith.
Nehemiah had a vision for rebuilding
Nehemiah had the heart of a true leader, and he moved to act as soon as he heard the news. He could’ve gone to Jerusalem like many leaders and just complained and did nothing, which at the time was pretty common, but he didn’t want to do that. He had a vision as to how Jerusalem was to be rebuilt and the conviction to see it through.
Nehemiah asked the Persian king Artaxerxes for permission to return to Jerusalem as governor. If you think about it, asking such a question of a king is kind of gutsy, but it’s that type of forward-thinking that made Nehemiah the leader he was. The idea of not doing anything wasn’t an option, and he knew the right channels had to be used to turn his plans into reality.
Not everyone was on board with his ideas
Local officials like Sanballat and Tobiah strongly opposed the rebuilding efforts. If that wasn’t enough, people also threatened violence towards him. There was no way he was going to buckle to their threats.
Nehemiah assembled all the people required to rebuild Jerusalem, and off to work they went. Sure, they faced obstacles, but the problem is, if you collapse in the face of obstacles, you’ll never achieve anything worthwhile, and Nehemiah fully understood this.
Nehemiah did more than rebuild Jerusalem
Nehemiah worked hard to bring social order back to Jerusalem. He fought hard against social injustices, canceling debts and mortgages that were oppressing the poor. One of the most important things he did was act by example; he refused to leave his position as governor for personal gain.
Nehemiah partnered with Ezra, the scribe, to bring spiritual renewal to the city. They read the Law of Moses to the assembled crowds, while explaining the meaning of the texts along with calling the people back to covenant faithfulness. All of this led to a time of national repentance and rededication to God.
What can we learn about Nehemiah’s tale?
The most important thing we can learn is true leadership is not only with actions but with faithfulness as well. Those who rely on their faith will act out in a way that is according to God’s will, hence bringing lasting change that benefits the community and their relationship with God.
Every person at some point in their lives will find something that needs to be rebuilt, even if it’s not at the same magnitude as an entire city. You might be called upon to do things that you think aren’t possible, but all things are possible as long as you maintain your faith. It’s faith in God’s plan that will direct you, even when you’re unsure of the outcome.
Wishing you a wonderful and blessed day!
See you in the next update,
Tohar Liani