Astuteness
Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. – Nehemiah 6:1-4
In continuation of our series on the leadership lessons we can learn from Nehemiah’s playbook, another lesson that stands out from him is astuteness.
In addition to all we have meditated on previously, Nehemiah was clever in the way he comported himself and handled his detractors. When the likes of Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and other adversaries invited him over with the plan of doing harm, he was discerning enough to know their intention. He read the room well to know those who were his allies and those who were his foes. He did not categorize his foes as his allies or make an enemy of his allies. It takes astuteness to be able to really place people for who they are, no matter what they say and how they behave around you. Nehemiah was wise in this regard.
Another way he exhibited wisdom was in the way he responded to the invitation of his adversaries. A less astute leader would have accepted the invitation with the mind of proving a point to his enemies that they could not harm him claiming that God was with him since he was doing God’s project. Nehemiah was not so foolish. He politely declined the invitations sent him by the detractors and did not attempt to test his popularity with God or show bravado to his lieutenants and countrymen by accepting the invitation.
Even when the adversaries kept sending him invitation up to the fourth count, Nehemiah did not succumb to their pressure but was firm with both himself by maintaining his stand as well as with his enemies by politely declining every time. As easy as this may sound or look, it is a profound lesson in leadership and one that everyone in a position of power or aspiring to leadership should note. Power can be intoxicating to the point that a leader forgets him/herself for a moment or even a spell, which can make them act out of place. In Nehemiah’s example, we see how to remain resolute and grounded without allowing the pressures of the work or inducements from external sources to get to us.
You Will Succeed in Jesus Name!
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