Leaders Can Face Loneliness and Many Other Challenges When God Calls a Man to Rebuild and Repair
It was not easy to rebuild and repair the walls of Jerusalem but Nehemiah undertakes this massive task.
The work on the walls in Chapter 3 is so ably supervised by Nehemiah with some 40 sections leaders with sub-leaders in places and each knowing where to be and what to do and each taking their share of the work, apart from those nobles from Tekoa, but their men more than made up for this poor example which the proud nobles set.
They would not bend the neck and put their head in the yoke and work with God and the leaders he appointed.
What a lesson on Leadership.
All have a part to play.
Each has a part to play.
These early Chapters of Nehemiah is all about the importance of people - the importance of administration and organisation - the importance of keeping a detailed record - and the crucial place and example of the leader.
Nehemiah demonstrates these lessons for us.
When we read these opening sentences of Chapter 4 last week, we come across criticism - sarcasm - derision - invective - and these are weapons which can easily discourage God's people.
The critics suggest that a fox climbing on the reconstructed walls would bring the walls crumbling down.
Well, when in Jerusalem, I visited the Broad Wall of which we read in Chapter 3 and it is some 15 feet wide.
You can visit it and see it if you go to Jerusalem today.
Some fox would be needed to bring that down.
If the situation is repaired and rebuilt properly we do not need to be overly concerned about all the little foxes that our enemies might speak about.
Nehemiah poured out his heart to God.
You have to be a very spiritual man to pray this type of prayer.
The walls are half-way up, and the people are working with all their heart.
There is prayer and action, as they post a guard.
Some became discouraged and wanted to quit.
Discouragement can almost be guaranteed, and it can appear suddenly.
We do not read that small print at the start.
Paul certainly faced deep discouragement as he served the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ.
That is one reason why Jesus appeared to him in Corinth to reassure him.
It was not physical exhaustion but fear.
Pressure was growing, and there are signs here too of the loneliness of leadership.
Nehemiah experienced the loneliness of leadership and that is something else which leaders have to cope with and accept.
Learn all the lessons you can.
Nehemiah has much to teach us.
Sandy Shaw
The work on the walls in Chapter 3 is so ably supervised by Nehemiah with some 40 sections leaders with sub-leaders in places and each knowing where to be and what to do and each taking their share of the work, apart from those nobles from Tekoa, but their men more than made up for this poor example which the proud nobles set.
They would not bend the neck and put their head in the yoke and work with God and the leaders he appointed.
What a lesson on Leadership.
All have a part to play.
Each has a part to play.
These early Chapters of Nehemiah is all about the importance of people - the importance of administration and organisation - the importance of keeping a detailed record - and the crucial place and example of the leader.
Nehemiah demonstrates these lessons for us.
When we read these opening sentences of Chapter 4 last week, we come across criticism - sarcasm - derision - invective - and these are weapons which can easily discourage God's people.
The critics suggest that a fox climbing on the reconstructed walls would bring the walls crumbling down.
Well, when in Jerusalem, I visited the Broad Wall of which we read in Chapter 3 and it is some 15 feet wide.
You can visit it and see it if you go to Jerusalem today.
Some fox would be needed to bring that down.
If the situation is repaired and rebuilt properly we do not need to be overly concerned about all the little foxes that our enemies might speak about.
Nehemiah poured out his heart to God.
You have to be a very spiritual man to pray this type of prayer.
The walls are half-way up, and the people are working with all their heart.
There is prayer and action, as they post a guard.
Some became discouraged and wanted to quit.
Discouragement can almost be guaranteed, and it can appear suddenly.
We do not read that small print at the start.
Paul certainly faced deep discouragement as he served the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ.
That is one reason why Jesus appeared to him in Corinth to reassure him.
It was not physical exhaustion but fear.
Pressure was growing, and there are signs here too of the loneliness of leadership.
Nehemiah experienced the loneliness of leadership and that is something else which leaders have to cope with and accept.
Learn all the lessons you can.
Nehemiah has much to teach us.
Sandy Shaw
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