Tuesday, April 8 – Nehemiah 5, 6

1. How many times did these two chapters record Nehemiah praying?

2. What was Sanballat and Tobiah’s greatest aim? (Nehemiah 6:1-2, 10-13)

3. Ultimately, who did the work? (Nehemiah 6:16)

The people were complaining of hunger. They appealed to the ruling class, the leaders of the day. They had mortgaged their houses and lands to get money for food. They had to borrow money from the ruling class so they could eat. Unable to pay the debt they owed, their children were being forced into slavery to service their debt (Nehemiah 5:1-5).

Having heard the cry of the people, Nehemiah rebuked the nobles and rulers. As part of that leading class, he challenged them to “walk in the fear of our God.” He called on them to stop the usury. He told them to restore the people’s lands, houses, and all that was charged to them (Nehemiah 5:6-8).

Nehemiah’s reprimand was effective. The leadership came to their senses. Their consciences were affected positively, so they agreed and promised to return everything to the people. The assembly of leaders and their people praised the Lord together (Nehemiah 5:9-12).

The former exemplifies how Nehemiah took the initiative to address a need. He was moved by empathy for the people. He was compassionate. He spoke truth to power and led out in providing something essential for the people. He was one great leader. Chapter five ends with Nehemiah’s prayer in verse 19: “Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”

Leadership is never easy. There will be challenges. Some would say the only way to prove leadership competency is through the crucible of challenges. Can you rise to the challenges of leadership?

As in Chapter 5, Chapter 6 presented its share of challenges, this time in the form of two individuals, Sanballat and Tobiah.

Nehemiah was in Jerusalem with a mandate to rebuild its wall. Sanballat and Tobiah tried their best to derail the reconstruction of the wall. In Chapter 6:1-4, they conspired to get Nehemiah away from the project, but he stayed on course. They tried four times unsuccessfully. Nehemiah responded: “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?” Nehemiah stayed the course. His focus was unparalleled.

Sanballat and Tobiah started a rumor about Nehemiah to besmirch his character and hinder him from completing his assignment. When that did not work, Sanballat and Tobiah hired someone to lead Nehemiah into a compromising position for which they could have something to blame him. This way, he would be a reproach to the people and lose his prominence in their sight. But Nehemiah prayed about the situation as he did on previous occasions. He placed them in God’s hands (Nehemiah 6:5-13). In verse 14, he prayed, “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.”

Despite tremendous opposition, Nehemiah relied on the Lord, and this brought him success. The wall was completed. He prayed repeatedly, conducted himself wisely, and remained focused on the task at hand. Best of all, the nations around perceived that this wall was completed by the God whom the people served (Nehemiah 6:15, 16).

Leaders are first and foremost servants (Nehemiah Chapter 5). They must not get distracted from the work they are called to do (Nehemiah Chapter 6). Leaders must rely on the power of prayer to keep them focused, especially in times of life’s challenges (Nehemiah Chapter 6). Leaders are made great when they work to empower and uplift others—not themselves (Nehemiah Chapters 5 and 6). Nehemiah was one great leader.