Nehemiah’s leadership lifted the people out of despair

When I look at the life of Nehemiah, this quote is befitting, for Nehemiah was a leader that others believed in and followed with a passion.

The beautiful thing is that Nehemiah was so effective that he was able to bring on board a people who beforehand were stagnant and let life pass them by.

The fact of the matter is that a nation, led by a leader who is a real leader, can move from failure and lacklustre performance to being a dynamic success. That is what is seen in the life of Nehemiah.

Message from God

Nehemiah had been given a message from God to deliver to His people. The people of God were in dire straits and to look at them would have been to see a people who were all but defeated. 

Yet, God sent His servant Nehemiah to them with the message that the walls of Jerusalem were going to be rebuilt. Yes, in spite of their condition of poverty and shame, God sent a divine message via Nehemiah. 

When God speaks a Word out of His mouth, it shall be performed. The fruition or manifestation of God’s Word is not halted by the physical conditions of the place or the mental condition of the people. 

God is sovereign, which speaks to the truth that God has the last say on all matters.

To look upon the condition of the land and people of Jerusalem was to see a picture of a fatherless nation. Jerusalem had no leader or voice to lead the people from poverty to prosperity. 

Jerusalem had no male who was able to stand up and speak healing to this place in the name of the Lord. 

That is why God sent Nehemiah to go from the palace to Jerusalem. The people were heavy with sorrow and defeat, and Nehemiah’s voice needed to be heard over all of the despair and defeat that was speaking loudly to the hearts of the people. 

Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

Real leaders realize that if they are set to do a good work, then there will be those who are encouraged by the devil to hinder the good that they will do. 

Sadly, there will always be a group of people who desire to see another group of people remain down and defeated, and when they see that there is hope in the eyes of those who were once hopeless, they move quickly to try and stop the possible work of restoration.

Yet, because Nehemiah was doing the will of God, he would not be tricked into taking his heart and mind off the work that he was called to do. 

11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

Instead of responding to the taunts of those who were joined with him in this good work, Nehemiah chose to go aside and be alone for three days. 

Nehemiah went to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city of “peace”. 

Rather than staying in the presence of  a Sanballat and a Tobiah and allowing them to frustrate your nerves, go to another place. Go and be quiet before God. Listen to God. Understand what the devastation of the people is about and get ready to obey the instructions from God.

Far too often many engage in conversations with their enemies, which leads to them becoming unfocused and not completing their mission. God has called you for a very specific reason and Satan does not want you to get the job done.

Defeat the enemy. Do God’s will. After three days, you will be resurrected out of that place with your instructions for victory. The people of Jerusalem need you, Nehemiah. Your voice is needed to be an echo of the heart of God. It is time to rebuild the people, so that a rebuilt people can then rebuild the walls of the city. Respice finem.