Leaders Model The Way

The Lord's people have a bad habit of not supporting each other. Many times throughout history, they have exploited and taken advantage of one another. Such was the case in Nehemiah 5. Having had great success against the external threats toward them from the Samaritans and neighbors, the internal threats begin again. This time in a matter that aggravated families. Jews were enslaving each other.

The result was poverty and outcry:

Nehemiah 5:1–2 (ESV) Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”

The text continues to lists what had transpired as a result:

Nehemiah 5:3–5 (ESV) There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” 4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

Again, Nehemiah steps in. This time he has to be a righteous advocate for the poor and marginalized of the community. 

Nehemiah 5:7–8 (ESV) I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them 8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.

I like that first line. "I took counsel with myself." Nehemiah thinks things through. He doesn't just react. But after his contemplation he realizes something. Slavery is as long in Israel's history as he can remember. And now they are enslaving each other! This must never be. 

The nobles know they are wrong. They listen and respond.

Nehemiah 5:12–13 (ESV) Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. 13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

The chapter further illustrates how Nehemiah led the way in regard to finances and generosity. He cared for 150 men with his own means every night. He refused to tax the people and at his own expense hosted gracious meals with meat and wine for all! 

Nehemiah 5:18–19 (ESV) Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

During Covid, the most infuriating thing I've seen is the blatant disregard for the rules the rule-makers made. California's governor is in trouble for this very reason and may be recalled. There is nothing more disheartening to people struggling than a leader who stays aloof from the suffering or flaunts his own privilege in the face of those he leads. Even pagans cannot stomach such hypocrisy. 

The point is this. Leadership must model a sacrificial and generous spirit if the work is to continue. Nehemiah models what he wants in the people toward one another. Because of this, the work continues in spite of the challenges.

It is why Jesus came as a servant. He washed their feet. He healed those who called to Him. He made himself available to the lowest classes of society. He modeled for us a generous spirit and a willing heart to give of Himself for the sake of others. 

Mark 10:45 (ESV) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In Christ, we have a true and better Nehemiah who models for us what the Church must be about - a community of concern and care for each other so the hard work of reaching the world can be accomplished.