Leadership Essay

With God’s help the Biblical leaders Ezra and Nehemiah were able to fulfill their roles as leaders in the Jewish community. These men of God were chosen to be leaders to pray for the Israelites, relay Gods commands and encourage the people. As God’s leaders Ezra and Nehemiah carried out their respective duties even if fierce opposition awaited them.
According to scripture, Ezra was the son of Seraiah. His lineage makes him a priest in the line of Aaron. His duty was to teach the law and work as a scribe. This enabled him to study God’s word diligently. The current unfaithful state of Israel needed to be addressed and Ezra stepped up to the task. “He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.” (Ezra 7:6) He and some Israelite volunteers set off on a journey to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God. Before they set out he chose to pray first and lead the people in a fast. “I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.” (Ezra 8:21) This demonstrates his willingness to submit himself before God before taking up responsibility. It is still important to remember that God should always come first in our lives.
However, the Israelites had not remained faithful to God and chose instead to marry foreign wives. This made Ezra feel immensely sad when he heard this. “While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.” (Ezra 10:1) This act of humility and grie...

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...ould bring justice to those who are threatening to disrupt the rebuilding of the walls. “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah (4:13-14) The ability to give encouragement and direction to others is another important role as a leader. Nehemiah takes the time to reassure all the people including the nobles and officials. Even fellow leaders need to be encouraged by these words. Church leaders also need to be reminded of how much God loves them and is able to protect them.