Nehemiah 2:17-18
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer suffer disgrace.” I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. They said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good.
The entire next chapter is devoted to naming the leaders who led the way in rebuilding and describing the rolet that they played. The entire chapter. Nehemiah came to a motionless people, a people focusing on survival because of all the trauma that had occurred around them and because of the affliction of the nations around them. Nehemiah and breathed into them a vison for abundant life, for productivity, for freedom from fear.
I think many of us find ourselves in a similar Christian culture – one in which we are simply fighting for survival. But God has so much more for us! He has this great vision to rebuild our schools, our communities, our homes, whose walls have been destroyed. God has a vision to move us from survival to abundant life!
How did Nehemiah get the people to buy into this vision? Reading the story in and around this passage I see four things that Nehemiah did that I think created ownership of the vision in the people who up to that moment were paralyzed by fear and survival.
1. Nehemiah surveyed the situation. He did this without hoopla. The story says he actually did this in a way that no one knew he was doing it. He came and quietly observed, learning about the culture, the situation, the depth of the suffering, the extent of the damage. He did not bust into the scene with building plans. First he observed, learned, studied.
2. Nehemiah described to the people the situation in which they lived in a way that demonstrated he understood. He did not simply say, “Hey, your wall is broken, let’s fix it.” No, he described the ruin of Jerusalem, and the suffering of disgrace that the people endured because of it. Sometimes we need to have someone point out the situation in which we are living in a way that we can understand it.
3. Nehemiah presented the vision. Not just a physical vision, but an emotional spiritual vision. Not simply rebuilding the walls, but recovering protection, regaining dignity. He presented a vision that would benefit all in all aspects of life.
4. Nehemiah told his story of God’s faithfulness. He told of the grace that God had showed him – and of the favor that God had given him with God and with man. There is something about the testimony of the work of God in our lives that is a powerful enabler of embracing vision. It is interesting to note that Nehemiah told them that the hand of his God had been gracious to him – he did not pretend that the people already believed in this God of his (who was in truth their God as well, but they had ceased following). He presented this God as his, telling his story, without pushing or attacking.
What was the response? The people jumped at the chance to be part of this vision of life and freedom, and they worked together, not for their individual good, but “to the common good.” Incredible leadership.
Father, as you breathe your vision into me for myself and others,
will you teach me to lead in gentleness and graciousness?
Teach me to lead for the common goal.
Give us the grace and the courage
to move from survival to abundant life.
Amen.