Seven Lessons in Servant Leadership: Nehemiah

Lesson Five

The Other Side of the Coin

Reflection

Dr. Chuck Swindoll, Pastor, Author and Chancellor Emeritus of Dallas Theological Seminary, told students during a chapel message in 2023 that there is an “other” side of leadership. It’s the side of leadership that we tend to omit when recruiting individuals for leadership positions. The truth about the “other” side of leadership is that being a leader is brutally hard. It can be a humbling and lonely place. Leading people and organizations is a huge responsibility, and the burden can weigh heavily on a leader's mind and spirit. The pressure to succeed can be overwhelming, and the temptation to win at all costs can put anyone’s integrity to the test.

Every leader will have critics or face opposition at some point in their career. How one responds to opposition tells as much about that individual's leadership style as it does their character. While secular examples of leadership celebrate a tit-for-tat response to the opposition, where one ridicules and belittles their opponent, Nehemiah’s example of biblical servant leadership offers another way. 

Application

Opposition to Nehemiah’s plans to repair the wall arose from the beginning and took many forms. In chapter two, Nehemiah recounts that as soon as Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab, three non-Jewish local governors, heard Nehemiah’s plan, they began to taunt and ridicule him. 

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”. (Nehemiah 2:19)

Nehemiah’s response gives valuable insight into what he believed about the work he and the Jews were seeking to accomplish. 

“So I answered them and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.” (Neh 2:20)

Nehemiah’s opponents sought to distract him from his plans with their childish taunts and petty mockery. However, he did not fall for the trap or spend much time defending his plans. Biblical servant leaders are called to “work as if working for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23). Nehemiah spent little time defending the work; rather, he aligned behind the mission and purpose (the work of the Lord) and declared their plans to move forward. 

As is often the case, opponents don’t often give in easily. Nehemiah’s persistence and dedication to the mission only angered his opponents.(Neh 4:1) In an effort to increase the pressure, Sanballat pivoted to ridiculing Nehemiah in the presence of others, in this case, the wealthy men of Samaria. (Neh 4:2) Tobiah the Ammonite joined in criticizing the work itself.

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building - if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!” (Neh 4:3) 

Once again, Nehemiah had a choice. Rather than wasting his time taking on his opponents by going word for word to defend the integrity of the work, he took his worries to the Lord in prayer. He and his workers stayed the course and committed their efforts to continuing the work. (Neh 4:4-6)

Frustrated by Nehemiah and his worker’s commitment to completing the project, his opponents upped their game and resorted to more deviant measures.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports.” (Neh 6:5-6)

This time, Sanballat focused his effort on attacking Nehemiah’s integrity by accusing him and the Jews of conspiring to mount a rebellion. He hoped to cause fear among the Jews and, in Nehemiah’s heart, to discourage them from finishing the work and cause their leader to flee from trouble. (Neh 6:9) Sanballat took an additional step by sending Shemaiah, a Levite, to entice Nehemiah into taking refuge in the Temple, which the Law forbade. 

But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.” (Neh 6:11). 

Nehemiah’s response reflects his courage, faith and the gift of discernment.  

Anyone in a leadership role will, at some point, face opposition. It is just one of the many realities of the“other” side of leadership. Dr. Swindoll also mentioned loneliness, criticism and self-doubt. Those seeking to adopt a biblical servant leadership style can learn much from Nehemiah’s example. Rather than retaliating against his opponents, Nehemiah took his concerns to the Lord and stayed focused on the mission. When his integrity and the integrity of the work were questioned, Nehemiah once again took refuge in the Lord and aligned his people behind the mission. When his opponents sought to instill fear in his heart and the hearts of his workers by heaping false accusations against him, he displayed courage, faith and discernment. 

In the next lesson, we will continue to Nehemiah to learn how a servant leader can respond when opposition escalates to the threat of physical violence. 

Challenge question:

What tactics have your opponents used against you in your leadership journey? What were the motives?

What has been your response to opposition in the past? How is it similar or different to Nehemiah’s example? 

Explore the Word

Nehemiah 2:11-20 

Nehemiah 4:1-8

Nehemiah 6:1-14

Yours in Christ,

Brad