Learning to Lead With NehemiahSample

Read Nehemiah 2 : 1 – 5

If someone should give you a blank check today, what would you write on it? I started thinking recently about what I would do if I was given a million dollars, and I was not impressed with my answers. I realized I spend more time dreaming than taking steps to achieve those dreams.

Nehemiah had a burden for Jerusalem, and it was not a flash in the pan. His brother Hanani told him the state of Jerusalem in Kislev, which was the third month of the civil year. We know Nehemiah prayed and asked God to intervene, but here he was, four months later, in the month of Nisan with no progress. He probably started out hopeful, trusting that each morning would be the day he would talk to the king and get him to do something on behalf of Jerusalem. Day after day went by without results until finally, Nehemiah’s discouragement was apparent on his face.

We don’t really see the big deal in Nehemiah’s sad countenance. But when you think about the supreme authority kings had in those times, we appreciate this was a life and death situation. In Esther’s day, a person could be put to death for approaching the king if he didn’t ask to see them. It’s a far cry from how in the US, we call our senators and congressmen to make our voices heard because we elected them. King Artaxerxes could have taken personal affront to the fact that the privilege of being in his presence was not enough to keep his staff smiling. 

We see that Nehemiah's passion for Jerusalem overrode his sixth sense of preserving his life. What are you willing to die for? What burns with so much passion in your heart that you are willing to give up security and significance for it? Here is a man who had become consumed with doing something about a problem, and he invested time into understanding how he would resolve it.

Nehemiah didn’t just agonize about it, though; he had a vision for what he wanted to do about the problem. He saw the walls rebuilt! He saw Jerusalem safe! He saw the disgrace, trouble, and reproach rolled away. What interests me is Nehemiah most likely had never seen Jerusalem in all its glory. He was born in Babylon and learned about the glory of Jerusalem from the elders who had seen it. He had no frame of reference, but he had a vision of what was ahead. To fulfill his vision, Nehemiah would need to give up the comfort of Babylon and sacrifice the prestige of his job. He would put his life at risk! All for a city he had never seen. 

Nehemiah was driven by his faith in the God of Israel: the God who promised He would restore Israel if the people would repent and turn to Him. The vision to rebuild Jerusalem was birthed in the place of prayer. Nehemiah continued to dream of what God showed him, and that passion sustained him until the opportunity to act presented itself. He still didn’t take things for granted but prayed and sought confirmation from God that this was the right opportunity to proceed. An already established relationship with God is required to confirm in your spirit that a direction is the way to go. Practicing hearing the voice of God in small things will always pay off when you need to hear God in the big things.

Word of the Day : Vision

Nehemiah articulated what he wanted in very clear terms. It wasn’t many words either—he wanted to rebuild Jerusalem. A vision that cannot be communicated is not likely to be achieved. Are you able to communicate your vision in clear terms?