Nehemiah and rebuilding fallen defenses

I think nearly every time I've been a part of a study of the book of Nehemiah, it's been cast a how-to manual on leadership

Bible study leaders typically make the point that Nehemiah didn't just start trying to rebuild the protective walls around the city, which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed 80 years ealier.  Under the cover of night, Nehemiah surveyed the situation around Jerusalem, traveling from gate to gate and from well to well, studying the wall to see where it was damaged most, and seeing the lay of the land. From there he goes to the other leaders of Jerusalem and makes his appeal to them, to begin the work, which they agree to wholeheartedly. This is how good leaders lead.

That's certainly a good lesson to draw, but it's not the only one.

Taking the time to understand the full situation and then plan what to do is a facet of Nehemiah's personality. We've saw that at the start of the book, when learning the state of the walls around Jerusalem moved him to prayer, and to lengthy reflection on what would be needed to rebuild the walls, so that when the king asked him what he would need, he was ready.

Given a different personality, Nehemiah could have approached the problem differently, yet still have seen the walls rebuilt. As a visionary he could have sold someone else on the idea of a majestically restored Jerusalem, and that person would bring planning and organizational skills to bear, and the wall would go up.

Or if Nehemiah were simply a humble brick layer, with no education, no access to the king, no resources at his disposal, he could still have started the ball rolling to going to the places where the wall was down, and rebuilding it one brick at a time. Others catch his dream and are galvanized into action, and the wall goes up.

Different approaches, each valid, each leading to a reconstructed wall. This is Nehemiah's story, so we get to see how people like him handle the situation, but let's not assume that this is the only way to lead. It starts with a vision, and then a commitment to that vision, and then as the vision spreads -- however it spreads -- the resources needed to realize that vision fall in place.

Know your part in the story.

Nehemiah knew his strengths and how to use them so his goals would be received well. Other people may be better at other forms of persuasion, all just as valid, and while it doesn't hurt to know how to use Nehemiah's planning strategy, it's good to know what your strengths are.