The story of Nehemiah is a great example of a leader who led the people to accomplish a great task. He had to be precise and direct to pull together a team of people who would buy into the vision and then be willing to work the vision. Nehemiah had a vision that could rally the people.
As we read through this great book, we can find seven principles that Nehemiah used to bring the people together to accomplish the purpose he had been given.
- Simplification – The vision was simple: build the wall. (Neh. 2:5)
- Participation – Nehemiah included as many people as possible in the process. (Neh. 2:18)
- Delegation – He matched the task with the workers. Leaders planning, the work team and the war team (Neh. 3, 4:16)
- Motivation – He brought people into the vision and encouraged them. (Neh. 4:14).
- Preparation – There were many dangers to face to reach Jerusalem, but he prepared by requesting the king to provide protection on their journey. Without walls around the city there was no protection, but he had prepared by setting a watch on the city. (Neh. 2:9)
- Cooperation – He instructed the people to work together; he charged them to stop the abuse of the leaders over the people and that they were to restore the land of their brothers. (Neh. 5)
- Celebration – After the people had worked and endured much temptation and struggle, they celebrated the completion of the wall with a great feast. (Neh. 8)
Nehemiah declared the people had a mind to work, so they built the wall. The bearers of burden strengthened that which was decayed. The leader recognized the distraction of their enemies and led the people to a resolution to overcome the enemy.
No great task is every accomplished without people to do the work and a leader to guide the way. With a leader that leads, the impossible becomes possible.