Leadership: God’s Way

How would you define leadership?  This definition resonated with me: ‘Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization. Leadership involves making sound — and sometimes difficult — decisions, creating and articulating a clear vision, establishing achievable goals and providing followers with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve those goals.’

So, are leaders born or made?

If you are born in a royal family your fate is sealed in a sense. The title and responsibilities await you and even if you feel otherwise, you rarely have much say in the matter. The caveat to include here is if you do choose to walk away from your royal lineage, the stakes are high. Not only do you lose privileges, access to wealth but potentially a relationship with your family.

Some people might have the potential to lead but need to train under someone, or go through certain experiences to bring out the leader in them.

With all this being said ,it might be worth mentioning that not all leaders are good leaders.

The show Voices of the Bible: Kings and Leaders Edition highlights all kinds of leaders: from those who remain steadfast in their mission to honour God, to those who start out good but end up bad and to those who are bad from the word go.

What lessons can we learn from the Bible about leadership?

That God can harden hearts for his purpose to be accomplished

In the book of Exodus, Chapter 4-14 is basically  God expressly telling Moses that he will harden Pharaoh’s heart. Why would he intentionally do so? ‘that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt… ‘I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”

Anyone can fall

Moses had to rely fully and completely to get the Israelites out of Egypt. When they were in the desert, he had to depend on God to lead them ( a cloud by day, fire by night), provide for them ( manna from heaven) and even heal them ( the bronze snake). Moses who had developed such a deep relationship with God, goes against His clear instruction to speak to the rock and instead strikes it. God still provided the water, but it did mean that Moses would not see the Promised Land.

Leaders experience fear and doubt

Gideon, even in how he described himself, was lacking confidence. It took three signs from God for him to do what he needed to. What is endearing about this story is that he is the living embodiment of the phrase ‘Do it Afraid’. Because of him choosing to trust God ,the oppression of his people from the Midianites came to a stop.

God uses willing vessels

In the book of 1 Samuel 3 we see that God calls Samuel. In order for Him to continue with His instruction he had to wait for Samuel’s response in verse 10 ‘ Speak, for your servant is listening’. It is this acceptance of God’s call in his life that led to the words in verse 19 ‘ The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.’

Leadership submitted to God can accomplish great things

We all know the story of the Apostle Paul. He was formerly known as Saul, a Pharisee who participated in the persecution of Christians before his conversion. On his way to Damascus he encountered Jesus and after 3 days through the prayer of Ananias he was not only healed from his temporary blindness but filled with the Holy Spirit. He  described himself as  a ‘bondservant for Christ’  and wrote 13 out of the 27 books of the New Testament.

As Kenyans head to the polls for the 2022 General Election, we pray especially for believers that your decision may be led by the Word of God and you may be convicted by the Holy Spirit. Even in the midst of what may look like absolute chaos, that God may preserve a remnant of leaders submitted to Him that may lead His people in the right direction. Amen ( So be it).