Anyone who steps into the arena of leadership must be prepared to pay the price. That’s part of the leadership package. True leadership takes a heavy toll on the whole person – and the more effective the leadership, the higher the price. The leader must face the fact that he or she will be the target of critical darts. Unpleasant as it may sound, you haven’t really led until you have become familiar with the stinging barbs of the critic. That implies one thing: good leaders must have thick skin
Nehemiah 4:1-5 (NIV) When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble--burned as they are?" Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building--if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!" Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
The Enemy's Playbook
Ridicule
For ridicule to work it must have a root in our insecurity and it thrives with an audience. Sanballat ridicules in the presence of an audience so that the barbs will have maximum effect.
Then he ridicules an area where there is already insecurity. He calls them feeble. He plays to their fear - "Will they finish so great a task?" This is bigger than them and they don't have what it takes. He points out the greatness of the task and focuses on what is left to be done and not what has already been done.
Criticism
Ridicule is mixed with criticism.
How can you believe that you can do this?
You want to offer sacrifices and worship God? At this rate, it will never happen.
Your work is subpar. The wall is not even strong enough to hold the weigh of a fox.
You want to build something lasting yet you cant get it off the ground and what you have done is not even strong enough to make it through the day.
OUR RESPONSE
Turn your hearts and cries to God. Hear us O God! Go back to God!
Our best defense is to continue to do what God has commissioned us to do.
About the author
Gary Kahn
Gary Khan was born on the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. He moved to America when he was 20 to pursue his education and calling to be a pastor. He met his wife DeLaine at Eugene Bible College (now New Hope Christian College) and upon their graduation, they were married and began working at a church in Santa Clarita, CA. After 32 years as a pastor, Gary became an Executive Director of Operations for Marketplace Chaplains. He is the author of devotionals including Reset and Greater.