Page 45 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

realized that opposition could come from within or from without. But wherever it came from, he was going to
deal with it head-on and try to run as far and as fast as he could after the initial contact.

Nehemiah realized that the strength of the laborers was failing, and they were saying there was so much
rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. But Nehemiah encouraged them to keep on, even though
fatigue and frustration had set in. If I can word it this way, he said, remember the YAC. The best professional
football players do everything they can to gain as many yards as they can after the initial contact. This is what
separates the superstars from the ordinary. Nehemiah was a superstar at encouraging the Israelites to
remember the YAC. (Yards After Initial Contact / Conflict) He encouraged them to focus on their goal and not
the rubble.

In the next few verses, Nehemiah is going to have to make some adjustments because of the threats. They said,
“They won’t know or see anything until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When
the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, “Everywhere you turn, ⌊they⌋ attack us.”
Evidently, some Jews who lived outside the walls arrived, and they said to us time and again that we could not
survive an attack from those trying to stop this work. These Jews were “far removed from the center glow of
the dynamic rebuilding spirit; they picked up on the gossip of those who sought to discourage them. Living so
near the enemy caused them to alter their focus and place their immediate attention on the enemy itself. They
began to listen to the scoffers instead of listening to their God. This can happen to any people who are in the
process of rebuilding their lives.” 152 Because of this repeated verbal rubbish, Nehemiah had to change his plans
somewhat and make some adjustments. Anyone who attempts to build anything will have to make
adjustments, but we must keep our eyes upon the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

4. Unity is essential (4:13-20)
13 So I stationed ⌊people⌋ behind the lowest sections of the wall, the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by
families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles,
the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring
Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”

Because of the vulnerability of the situation, Nehemiah made an inspection. He found the wall's lowest
sections and marked them as the most vulnerable areas. There is little doubt in my mind that he assembled a
team to help him with this process. It is not an understatement to describe the situation as dire. However,
Nehemiah's confidence in God gave him infectious optimism. "The task of crisis leaders is not an easy one. They
tend to lead people who feel threatened and organizations at risk… They are called on to provide leadership
without the benefit of a strong support network to provide them and their followers with the emotional
support needed in a crisis. If they fail in this task, they are often blamed for the organization's demise.
In contrast, if they are successful, they are seldom valued once the crisis is past." 153 Because Nehemiah did not
have a strong supporting network, he had to recast the vision of who God was and what God wanted to
accomplish through them. Therefore, he stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the
people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord.

Exodus 13:3 teaches us to “remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the
LORD has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand.” Over and over, you will find this command to
remember our Lord. Over and over, we are told to meditate on the way that God is more powerful than our
sinful urges and more powerful than our wicked opponents. Nothing is impossible with God. No mountain is so
high that it cannot be moved. No valley is so deep that it cannot be scaled. You may need to strap a sword
around your waist in the next verses. But always remember God will fight for you.

15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us
returned to his own work on the wall. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half
held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, 17, who were rebuilding
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