A leadership essay based on Nehemiah 5:1-13

The problem

Nehemiah and the Jews rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem faced much opposition. Some of the main sources of opposition came from Sanballat in neighboring Samaria and other leaders from the surrounding heathen nations. Through all this opposition, the Jews persevered and took measures to protect themselves so the building would continue. However, opposition and injustice doesn’t always come from without. Often the most difficult issues to address are those that come from within.

In the middle of rebuilding the wall, the people cried out against their fellow Jews (Neh 5:1). The poor were mortgaging their possessions such as fields, vineyards, and homes to wealthy Jews to buy grain during a famine. Others were borrowing money to pay their taxes, and some were even needing to sell their children into slavery to pay their debts. Eventually some had no children left to sell, and their property still remained in the hands of the Jewish nobles and official (Neh 5:2-5). They had no hope, and their rich brethren were doing nothing to help them.

It appears that after the first Jews had returned from captivity that the society had split into two groups: the rich and the poor. The rich were taking advantage of the poor and financially benefitting from their brothers and sisters’ misery. The rich Jews were charging interest on their loans, which was forbidden in the Old Testament Law (Ex 22:25). They were also buying the poor brethren’s children as slaves. Nehemiah and others who were sensitive to the plight of the poor had been lending them money and grain (Neh 5:10), much of which was then ending up in the pockets of the rich.

This was not something that had arisen in a week. This had likely been going on for many years, maybe even since shortly after Zerubbabel returned to Palestine with the first group of Jews. How long had the people suffered without someone noticing their plight? Had anyone ever tried to right this wrong? How long must God’s people cry out before someone would be willing to help them?

The response

As soon as Nehemiah realized what was happening, he reacted with anger, but it didn’t stop there. He carefully considered what was happening and what his response should be. After some thought, he called a meeting with the wealthy Jewish officials and nobles.

The consequences for crossing the powerful can be high. Perhaps some of the wealthy Jews were financially contributing to the rebuilding effort. It could be that giving away their ill-gotten money allowed them to salve their consciences with the good they were doing. Nehemiah risked losing their support for his main task by confronting them. Nehemiah was even risking his life. What would stop a paid assassin from visiting his tent in the middle of the night? The easy choice would be to wait until the wall was completed, then address the wrong. But Nehemiah acted on principle that God’s people were suffering at the hand of their own brethren, and that something must be done.

Nehemiah clearly explained to the nobles and officials that what they were doing was wrong. They were acting unjustly to their brethren, and this was even inviting reproach from neighboring nations. Some were likely acting with deliberate callousness, while others were acting in ignorance or just following the example of others. You can almost see their astonishment and contrition in that they didn’t even have a response to what Nehemiah accused them of.

Nehemiah also had a plan. After confronting the nobles and officials, he laid out several things that could be done to right the wrong. “Stop charging interest to your brethren and return their property to them along with whatever else you have taken from them.”

The Lord must have been with Nehemiah, because the rich didn’t resist—“We will do as you say.” Nehemiah then followed up his direction with accountability. By bringing the priests and then making everyone take an oath, he made sure that those who had taken from the people couldn’t return to their sinful ways without consequences.

And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. 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. (Nehemiah 5:12b-13 ESV)

The lesson

Outside opposition is often easy to address because a group is easily united against pressures from outside. However, dealing with abuses and injustices emanating from inside of a group can cause fractures and then factions that can completely destroy the group from within—Nehemiah knew this. As he considered the problem, he no doubt prayed to the LORD and asked what he should do. How could he address the sin while also keeping the effort to rebuild the wall from falling apart?

Leaders are tempted to let internal issues fester, to delay until they are forced to act. It is easy to think that an issue might resolve itself if we wait for a bit, but that is rarely the case. Nehemiah was certainly tempted to let this offense go until a later time, but the nature of what was happening compelled him. Leaders must act, even when it is hard.

If we ever need to confront those who are doing wrong, especially those in authority or power, it must be done in the right way. Early in the account Nehemiah was angry, but that anger doesn’t seem to have caused him to lose control. When he met with the officials, Nehemiah clearly defined that what they were doing that was wrong, and then he showed them the effects their actions were having. Not only were they causing their fellow Jews to suffer, but the name of the LORD was coming under reproach. Once he explained the problem, he gave the nobles requirements that they must fulfill to right the wrong they had perpetrated. Step-by-step, Nehemiah clarified what the problem was, and then outlined a way to redeem the situation.

Nehemiah was driven by his sense of what was right and what was wrong. He saw a need and he accepted responsibility when it appeared that no one else would stand up for the poor. He stood to lose quite a bit if the nobles and officials turned against him, but he wasn’t swayed by the power held by those he was opposing. He knew the LORD was on his side, and he rested in that as he accused the wealthy Jews of their sin.

Leaders must stand for what is right when there is no one else who sees the problem or who is willing to do what is necessary. The risks can be high, and the leader will sometimes suffer unjustly because he alone was willing to push back against injustice or sin. Leaders must stand in the gap when no one else will.