It is popularly known that three things form the pillars of leadership: calling, competence, and character.
In Nehemiah’s case, it is clear he had a divine calling. This is evident in his immediate and urgent response to his brother Hanani’s troubling news about the shameful state of Jerusalem and the returned exiles.
That call motivated him to immediately act, starting right where he was. From his response to the call to completing the assignment (proving his competence): rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, re-instituting societal order and godly culture, and restoring justice and fairness in leadership, Nehemiah demonstrated a godly, emulatable character.
From the first chapter, it is evident that Nehemiah’s life flowed from his relationship with God. Upon receiving the distressing news about the dilapidated state of his home country, he immediately went to God in humble repentance, knowing that the people’s suffering was the result of Israel’s sin, he and his family included. His reliance on God for favor before the king and his bold request for assistance showed him to be a courageous and proactive leader whose faith translated into action. Nehemiah’s wisdom was well displayed in how he acknowledged God in everything he did:
- He took time to understand the assignment, discretely investigating the task.
- He responsibly assigned the repair portions and work to individuals, groups, and families.
- He dealt with opposition from without and oppression from within using great discernment.
- He administered his leadership role for twelve years with integrity, equity, and admirable fairness.
Another notable character trait showed up in his ability to safeguard the gains they had made by confronting evil. After the Israelites had committed to follow God’s law diligently, Nehemiah found that they had fallen back into disobedience during his absence. For instance, they were marrying foreign women and giving their daughters in marriage to foreign men; they were trading on the Sabbath and neglecting temple duties—the Levites, no longer receiving their tithes, had returned to farming. He confronted the matters vehemently, head-on. He represented God’s standards with moral authority, which he had earned through his righteous character.
This brings to mind Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, who in Numbers 25:7-13 acted decisively when a Jewish man publicly engaged in immorality with a Moabite woman. Phinehas’s boldness in confronting sin drew God’s favor and resulted in a covenant of peace. Likewise, Nehemiah’s actions undoubtedly pleased God.
Ultimately, Nehemiah’s life points us to Jesus Christ, who modeled perfect character during His time on earth. Every leader is exhorted to live as Christ did (1 John 2:6). What a wonderfully practical example we have in Nehemiah.