City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “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?” 4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” 9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:1-9

Exegesis

Leadership usually comes with opposition. Leadership is the influencing of others, and when decisions are made to influence people and use resources toward a particular purpose there will always be people who have a different idea about what that purpose should be and how resources should be used. Opposition is unavoidable. Sometimes it is internal, sometimes external but it is always a distraction. How one responds to it matters, and Nehemiah is a model for how to do so.

Nehemiah was confident in the importance of and vision for his work. See Nehemiah 6:3 (“I am doing a great work…”). And when it became clear to those watching that Nehemiah was experiencing success he began to experience opposition. When Sanballat and Tobiah saw Nehemiah was experiencing success in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem they attempted to distract him by calling him away from his work into a trap. Nehemiah, like all good leaders, had good situational awareness, saw the invitation for what it was, and he dealt with it directly. Nehemiah’s response was direct and honest: “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 6:3). Nehemiah understood the importance of his work, saw the distraction for what it was, and dealt with it swiftly and directly. He remained focused on what was important because he understood the importance of what he was focused on.

When Nehemiah refused to be distracted, Sanballat and Tobiah made false accusations against Nehemiah. See Nehemiah 6:6. Anyone who has ever led an important endeavor long enough will have to deal with opposition by false accusations. False accusations are a more serious form of opposition because rather than merely attempting to distract they have the potential to destroy a leader’s reputation rather than merely diminish a leader’s productivity. However, Nehemiah’s response was direct and dispassionate: “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” (Nehemiah 6:8). Then Nehemiah prayed for strength from God. (Nehemiah 6:9). Nehemiah dealt with the accuser directly and at the source, but he also put his trust in the Lord to protect his reputation. 

Application

If you lead, expect opposition. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing anything wrong and opposition is sometimes the best evidence you are doing something right. Opponents rarely feel the need to oppose those who are ineffective. And when opposition comes be prepared to deal with it confidently and directly, just as Nehemiah did.

Prayer

Lord, prepare my heart for opposition as a I lead, and help me to deal with it confidently and directly and by your grace. Amen.