"Some time before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of The Temple of God. He was close to Tobiah and had made available to him a large storeroom that had been used to store Grain-Offerings, incense, worship vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil for the Levites, singers, and security guards, and the offerings for the priests." Neh 13:4-5
Nehemiah must have thought that life would now be all good. The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. The leaders and other families had moved in. There were great celebrations as people turned back to God. Mission accomplished. But, when he returned to Jerusalem following a trip to Babylon he found a heap of problems:
- Eliahsib had given a room in the Temple of God to his mate Tobiah
- The Levites hadn't been given their food allotment and had gone back to their farms
- A whole lot of stuff was being sold on the Sabbath
- Jews were marrying foreigners
Whether I agree with what Nehemiah believed was right or wrong is another story. But what I see in this passage (for me at least) is the fact that, when you are in leadership the story is never over. It doesn't matter what century or millennium you live in. There are periods when all is well - times of celebration when people are getting on and doing the right thing. But, inevitably it will go pear shaped.
Leaders have to expect that life as a leader won't always be easy. We need to enjoy and celebrate the good times but not be lulled into a false sense of security because the next drama will be waiting just around the corner.
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