The questions we must answer here are: “How would Nehemiah handle such a scenario as a visionary and courageous leader, if he found out that the resources, he needed to rebuild the devastated economy of Judah was hijacked by either Sanballat or Tobiah? Would he fold his hand and allow the financial rape of Jerusalem to continue? Will he compromise by buying shares in the companies controlled by Geshem, the Arabian? Will he become a partner in the Sanballat-Tobiah and Geshem corruption, and allow the financial resources that could lift the distressed citizens of Judah to be carted away to the nations of these three wicked men who were all foreigners?
The truth is that he would not. The Nehemiah Ideology for redeeming and rebuilding people and places is geared towards raising courageous men and women like Nehemiah who are not just thinkers but pragmatic and incorruptible leaders, loyal to God and to their nations. The ideas and ideals they profess are based on the foundations of God’s throne: righteousness and justice, mercy and truth. The Nehemiahs of our time must exhibit the grace of courageous confrontation, that is, the ability to contend with evildoers for the purpose of ensuring that they do not loot the resources meant for the economic emancipation of Africa. On several occasions, Nehemiah confronted wicked men at the risk of his life. He “…contended with the nobles of Judah,” when they enslaved their brethren, practiced usury and forced the people to mortgage their lands for food during a famine. He contended with them for profaning the Sabbath day. According to Nehemiah, “In those days, I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine grapes, figs and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. Men of Tyre dwelt their also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 13:15-16).
Notice that Nehemiah courageously confronted foreign merchants from Tyre whose business practices violated the ethical standards of the Sabbath. To the Nobles of Judah who joined these foreigners to pervert the Sabbath laid down rules, Nehemiah said, “…What evil thing is that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath” (Nehemiah 13:17-18).
Courage is required to man the gateways of African economies. Nehemiah demonstrated courage and was willing to enforce rules. Eliashab, the High Priest, who has “authority of the storerooms of the house of…God, was called with Tobiah,” the Ammonite. “And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests” (Nehemiah 13:5). This was when Nehemiah went back to Babylon in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes’ reign. He rebuked Eliashab and drove away Tobiah when he returned and discovered that the storehouse of the Temple was now the living quarters of an adversary of Judah. Nehemiah 13:17-19 says, “Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day.”
Redemption is at the heart of the Nehemiah Ideology. Only men of courage can deal with the foreigners who join themselves with unpatriotic and greedy Africans to loot the continent. The economic challenges of Africa are both internal and external. Corruption is a huge part of the problems African nations face. The Nehemiah Ideology promotes righteousness and justice. It encourages leaders to be incorruptible. Unless systems are established and men of integrity are appointed to man the strategic gates of African economies, the resources meant for building and rebuilding the nations of Africa will continue to be carted away by African leaders with their foreign collaborators.
Nehemiah contended with the spirit of corruption and those enslaved by it. He appointed credible men to take charge of strategic tasks. “So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren” (Nehemiah 13:11-13).
African nations must discover, disciple and deploy faithful men and women to man the treasures of their nations. Technology should be deployed and systems created to reduce the level of corruption.
