Depending on which historian you ask, the description of the Persians can differ. I personally adhere to the explanation that the Persians were much different in their methods of ruling a vast empire. Babylon was the last of a dying breed of world-conquerors. For centuries, the world had been dominated by the imperial “tough guys,” empires that would enter the scene, flex their militant muscles, and destroy you. Babylon sought to crush, demoralize, and annihilate you.
Persia, on the other hand, had been heavily influenced by the new Western ideals of the Greeks. They sought to “win over” their enemies and earn their loyalty, rather than pummel them into surrender. This isn’t to say that the Persians weren’t incredible in their conquest — quite the opposite — but they had learned that conquering the world is much cheaper, easier, and less of a headache if you can win them over to your cause. Not only this, but Persia, instead of pillaging your land and leaving it desolate, would now employ you to farm, use, and occupy your land, causing their imperial economy to flourish.
So, when Cyrus defeats the Babylonians, we are told that he makes a decree that allows the Jews to go back home. This isn’t just a stroke of generosity on the part of Cyrus; this is his method. It also helps us understand why all throughout the book of Ezra, we keep seeing letters that are exchanged that question the motives and loyalty of the Jewish people to the Persian empire. Persia will not stand for a little rebellion beginning at the crossroads of the earth.
It should also be pointed out that very few people find themselves filled with joy and on their way “back home.” There is no mass return of the Jews; they come back in multiple waves of small groups of people. We are told of at least three distinct ways. The earliest pioneering wave of the remnant is led by a man named Zerubbabel. Later, Ezra follows and brings a second wave. The book of Ezra covers those two waves of returnees. Nehemiah will be mounting a third wave of returnees that we will read about in the book of his name.
But alas, this is not the point of my post. What concerns me about the teaching around Ezra and Nehemiah is the personalities of the guys we are told about who lead this remnant home to rebuild in their homeland.
I find it interesting to note the different forms of leadership that are seen in the story of Ezra/Nehemiah. The pioneering spirit of Zerubbabel is going to be a good fit to go with the pastoral, shepherding methods of Ezra. Between the two of them, they respond to adversity with steadfast encouragement and diplomacy. Zerubbabel writes letters and waits for responses; he follows the rules and plays by the book. Ezra will come back home and address the sinful disobedience of the people with discussion and Bible study. Upon finding out that the people of the remnant have already intermarried, putting the clarity of God’s project at risk almost immediately, he holds what I can best describe as a town hall meeting. They spend time in prayer and in the Text. The meeting is successful as the people come out with a spirit of confession and a plan for moving forward.
This stands in stark contrast to the methods and personality of Nehemiah. Nehemiah is a guy who has a little Elijah in his bones. When the people of God meet resistance in the building project, the last thought to cross Nehemiah’s mind is to write a letter; his command is to lay bricks with one hand and hold a sword in the other! When Nehemiah finds that the leaders have all gone home and intermarriage is again running rampant, the last thing on his mind is a town hall meeting; instead, he pulls out their beards and beats them with his fists (allowable by Torah).
Ezra/Nehemiah is about leadership. And it allows me to make some observations that will lead to an application.
First, please note that resistance, hardship, and troubles will come. In each story, the one constant piece is hardship. Rebuilding is difficult. Pushing forward and making progress is hard work. There will always be bumps in the road and obstacles to overcome. Good leaders help people overcome obstacles. They encourage people to keep going. They help us all endure. They find a way (and Godly leaders find God’s way, not just a way).
Second, please note that these leaders couldn’t be more different in their leadership styles and personalities. Ezra and Nehemiah have completely different leadership styles. Ezra is a shepherd/exhorter; Nehemiah is a prophet. Ezra leads with encouragement and tact; Nehemiah leads with fire and inspiration. Both leaders are blessed in their work by God. Why? Because they are working as God has created them to work. They are working in their anointing.
Third, they were passionate. This went for all of them. It’s easy to see the passion of Nehemiah, but don’t think for a second that Ezra didn’t lead each and every morning with passion. It’s difficult to crawl out of bed each morning and encourage God’s people and write another letter, only to wait for a delayed response. It takes all kinds of passion for Zerubbabel to mount up the troops and head back home into the unknown. You don’t lead a charge of the remnant without passion and an undying commitment to persevere.
I believe that each person reading this has a certain capacity and calling for leadership. You may be the kind of leader everybody would call a leader; you might be a business owner or a supervisor or a teacher. Maybe you aren’t, but you also might be a parent or a mentor. You might be gifted with the ability to serve. You might be the one woman some young girl looks up to. You might be the one man who doesn’t realize that his colleague is watching him.
You are a leader of something. And your calling is to be the kind of leader God created you to be. If you are a Nehemiah, we need you to be a Nehemiah. (Of course, if you are a Nehemiah, you probably don’t need me to tell you that.) If you are an Ezra, we need you to be an Ezra. If you are a pioneer, we need a few more people like Zerubbabel. And we need you to be passionate about leading well.
So lead on. The people of God need it.
No comments:
Post a Comment