Reading: 1 Samuel 20:1-22:23

Focus: 1 Samuel 22:6-19

The old saying goes, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The double-edge sword of leadership, the power and authority of leadership, can be dangerous in the hands of anyone, even the most careful of leaders. For if a leader is unable to wield the sword of leadership, he is easily overcome by those who despise his leadership; if a leader wields the sword wildly with absolute disregard for those around him, it is likely that he’ll hurt people and himself in the process. It takes a strong, but firm, leader to wield the sword so that those he leads follows him, but also feel protected with him.

One such case of power-corrupted-leadership is King Saul. After his fallout with God and David’s victory over Goliath, Saul lived in fear of losing his throne. So great was his fear that it drove him to make some serious mistakes. One such instant was when he massacred an entire clan of priests and the city in which they lived. All this for they had innocently provided David with food and a weapon. His fear had driven him to unreasonable action, even his own officers wanted nothing to do with his madness.

Leadership is not something to be taken lightly. Within your hands, you hold influence, authority, valued opinion, and the people you lead. Those is positions of leadership need to constantly evaluate their motivations, attitudes and progress, unless they find themselves either overwhelmed by the task at hand, or getting drunk on power and going out on a rampage… For those of you who are not leaders, it is all the more critical that you pray and support those in leadership. In the end, their leadership, good or bad, affects you. Good leadership means that you benefit, bad leadership means that you suffer.

Next Reading: 1 Samuel 23:1-25:44

Reading: Joshua 1:1-6:27

Focus: Joshua 1:12-18

A leader is only as good as those who follow him. After all, what good is a leader who has no followers? Kinda pointless to be a leader when no one follows you… What is worse is you succeed a great leader! The pressure of meeting the standard set by the previous leader, not in spite of you, but simply because they were great. It is a greater test of one’s leadership in the line of succession. Even with the full blessing of the previous leader, it does not automatically ensure a successful transition and leadership.

However, it is an entirely different story when followers give their overwhelming support. As Joshua had succeeded Moses and began to mobilise the people of Israel to move into the Promised Land, he had to deal with a potentially difficult situation involving the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. These three tribes had already received their allotment of land on one side of the Jordon, while the remaining tribes would receive their allotment on the other side of the Jordon. There was a possibility that the three tribes may not have recognised Joshua’s leadership and revoked their oath to Moses to aid the remaining tribes in the conquest of the Promised Land.

The words of three tribes are simply priceless:

Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!

How awesome would it be to hear these words as a leader! Complete support and not only that, what seems like conditions, would be better understood as prayers for Joshua. And in closing, repeating God’s exhortation given to Joshua: be strong and courageous! Such support must have given Joshua a huge confidence boost following in the footsteps of Moses.

The question today though is whether we support our leaders in the same way. Do we offer them our prayers that God would anoint them, guide them, strengthen them in all things that they might be the best that they can be? Do we exhort and encourage them to be strong and courageous as God’s servants? What difference would it make if our leaders knew that they were standing upon the prayers and support of those who followed them?

Next Reading: Joshua 7:1-10:15

Reading: Numbers 10:11-13:33

Focus: Numbers 11:10-30

Being up the top can be hard. There’s a lot of weight carried upon the shoulders of the head-honchos. All the responsibility of decision making, keeping people happy, leading the way into a new era of success and growth… it isn’t easy. The pressure and stress can really get to you and you might just snap. Just that little something which you didn’t need, and it pushes you over the edge—you’ve had enough, you want out, you want it to end…!

Welcome to the life of Moses. Charged with the task of leading the people of Israel out from slavery in Egypt, establishing them as a nation with a heavenly constitution, acting as a judge, and principle spokesperson for God. At this point, the last thing he needed was to hear another complaint from the people… but it does, it comes in a form of a desire for meat. In the middle of this situation, Moses has had enough and he wants it all to end: “If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favour in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

It is ironic that Moses finds himself in this position as his father-in-law had already given him advice on sharing his burden, delegating and appointing others to aid in his task. The significant difference here, however, is that God steps in and adds an extra aid. God commanded Moses to bring 70 elders before Him, where He would take a portion of the His Spirit upon Moses and delegate it among the elders. As a result, the elders prophesied as a symbol of God’s anointing upon them.

As church leaders in the 21st century, it is all fine and good for us to delegate our responsibility to others, as Jethro advised Moses (see Exodus 18:13-26). However, there is a further need for us as spiritual leaders to commit to God and seek God for others to share in our spiritual burden of pastoring and ministering to His flock. They may not be, by human standards, the obvious choice but rather they are the godly choice. Such selection of leaders requires prayer and guidance by God’s Holy Spirit. The fruit of spiritual delegation results in a new level of pastoral care, ministry and spiritual growth within God’s community—not to mention, a chance for leader’s to take a breath.

Next Reading: Numbers 14:1-16:35