Our will and GOD’S WILL

Judi Barrett

God’s Word has lessons in it for every part of our lives. Each part of our lives, whether business or personal would benefit greatly from applying those lessons. We also benefit the Kingdom of God by applying the lessons illustrated within His Word. These lessons come from great men and women of God who lived before we do. Such are the lessons on leadership that Nehemiah has for us. You already own the best selling book on leadership that was ever written.

Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, king of Persia (465-424 B.C.). A cupbearer was an important position. He had direct access to the king. He chose the king’s wine and was privy to confidential conversations that took place. Later texts identify him as the “wine taster”. The cupbearer was also the bearer of the signet ring and was the chief financial officer. The cupbearer had to be learned in etiquette and grace, trustworthy and intelligent in handling money. He did not become the king’s cupbearer by being slovenly in appearance, character, or money matters. Nehemiah was a Jew, a foreigner, which says much about what a trustworthy he was. He had been chosen in spite of being a Jew.

Nehemiah also had a heart for the things of God. When Hanani his brother returned from Jerusalem, during the month of Kislev (corresponding to our November) in the twentieth year (probably the 20^th year of ArtaxerxesI, which would be 445 B.C.), Nehemiah asked his brother how the remnant of the Jewish people which remained in Jerusalem were doing and what condition the city was in. A true leader is concerned for others.

Hanani tells Nehemiah of the plight of the Jewish people that survived the exile. The ones that were left behind were back in Jerusalem but they were in trouble. It was a disgraceful situation. They were struggling and they were defenseless because the city’s wall and gates had not been reconstructed even though the temple had been.

Nehemiah could have said, “Oh, that’s terrible,” and gone on his merry way. He was in a good position, the condition of Jerusalem and its people was “no skin off of his back”. He could have said, “No, don’t tell me, I don’t want to hear it.” He could have pretended that everything was just fine in Jerusalem. It would have made his life a lot easier. The Word tells us that Nehemiah immediately went to the LORD. When he heard the words of Hanani, he was saddened but he did not run his mouth off griping to people. NO. He went to his GOD in prayer. He was so concerned for someone other than himself, that he wept before the LORD, salty tears of contrition combined with fasting. He was in pain over the condition of Jerusalem and the people there. He prayed night and day, implying a continual prayer at all hours.

What did he say to GOD? Well the Word tells us that he praised GOD, by telling Him what a great and awesome GOD He is. Nehemiah reminded God of His covenant and His promises to return the exiled people if they return to God and obey His commands. He confessed sins, not only his, but the sins of his people, the Israelites. He reminded GOD that the Israelites are His people and had been redeemed by GOD himself. He ended by asking that GOD’S ear would hear him and that GOD would help him find favor with the king. I’m sure that he felt God calling him to do something. He made a commitment to do God wanted him to do and he asked God’s blessing to be upon the work. Nehemiah was willing to leave his “comfort zone” and do something for God that he had never done before, but that his work for the king had prepared him for. This looks like a short prayer, but the Word says that Nehemiah mourned, fasted, and prayed for days. In fact four months go by between the time that his brother returns from Jerusalem and the day that Nehemiah actually brings the problem before the king. He did not get in a hurry and get ahead of God. He waited. It does not say that he discussed it with anyone else. It does not say that he asked everyone that he ran into to help him pray about it. He had taken it before his GOD. He had a pure heart in the matter. He was not doing it for selfish reasons, his motivation was right and so he waited on the LORD.

The fourth chapter of Ezra tells us that the Jews had attempted to rebuild the walls of the Temple but Rehum, the king’s chancellor, had Shimshai, his scribe, write a letter to the king, protesting the reconstruction. The king had stopped the work. The letter stated that “if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and the royal revenues will suffer.” and also “a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.” (Ezra chapter 4, NIV)

So Nehemiah is ready to visit with the king about rebuilding the Temple wall and the city’s gates. How does he go about it? What can Nehemiah say to King Artaxerxes that will convince him to allow the Temple wall and the city’s gates to be rebuilt? We will look at these in the next article in this series on Leadership skills taught by Nehemiah, “Determination and Planning”.

In conclusion, a leader would do well to follow Nehemiah’s example in the following: Nehemiah had a heart for the things of GOD, evidenced by his inquiring about their welfare, prayer for their condition, and by waiting on the LORD to answer. He was determined and persistent, not slack in his praying.

Nehemiah’s will was to do something about the situation. His desire was to “fix it”. His desire to do something was birthed from genuine concern for the Jews and Jerusalem. His heart was right. He was not desiring to do some great work to promote himself. He prayed and waited to see what GOD’S will was. GOD had to be with him in this for success. He persisted until he had an answer.

Our first step in undertaking a new project should also be to pray about it first, foremost, and patiently. Continue to do that until it gets clear. Make sure that your desire comes from a pure heart, that your motives are unselfish. Persist in seeking GOD’S will. We must seek His will in our endeavors to insure success.