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Biblical Leadership Themes of the Old Testament
Introduction
When people think about the Bible, they usually think of God and Jesus. Many do not realize that the Bible, including the Old Testament (OT), is the unfolding story of Jesus Christ and His messianic message. In the beginning, it is evident that Jesus the Son is the creator of man, alongside God the Father and God the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26, English Standard Version). As the story in the Book of Genesis begins to unfold, the first foretelling of Jesus’s coming is in Genesis 3:15, when God mentions that “…he will bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15, ESV). In the OT, the Bible continues to echo the many prophetic messages of the coming of a Messiah that will save and rescue the people of God (Num. 24:17; Pss. 72:10-11; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 31:15; Dan. 9:25-26; Mic. 5:2; Hos. 11:1, ESV). As the story of the OT progresses, it tells of unlikely heroes used for God's glory. First, the OT tells of the father of all Israel, Abraham, who is chosen to lead His people to become a great nation (Gen. 12:1, ESV). Then, the youngest child of Isaac, Joseph, is used by God to bless his family and provide them with land in Egypt so that they do not die during a famine (Gen. 45:5-8, ESV). As the story of the OT unfolds, there are many other implausible heroes, such as Moses, Gideon, David, Noah, and many more. Throughout the OT, some themes are established within these characters and demonstrate His absolute leadership.
1
Countless leadership themes are established in Theology for the Everyday Leader
. Although there is not one leadership theme overbearingly greater than the others, this essay will examine three of the most prevalent. The essay will evaluate the success of God's chosen leaders,
the humility within OT leaders, and how God holds all His servants accountable. 1
Benjamin K. Forrest and Chet Roden. Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader
. (Grand Rapids, MI.:
Kregal Publications, 2017), 30.
God’s Leaders Succeed
In Romans 8:31, Paul states, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31, ESV). Forrest and Roden explain that God's leaders are appointed not only by Him but also for His purposes. God's ultimate purpose for the people of Israel is to love God and each other, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 22:37-39. Forrest and Roden express that obedience to God's declared will is one of the highlighting principles of the leaders chosen by God.
2
It is through obedience when Israel’s leaders are successful.
In Joseph's life, it is apparent that he lived through many hardships, but as stated in Genesis 50:20, he was able to serve his family and many others by following God's will.
3
The famine in Egypt became so great that many foreigners traveled there for provisions. Even after wrongful imprisonment, he could carefully discern his dreams and store enough grain for many people. By fulfilling God's will, there was a success in the years of famine for the Egyptians, the Jews, and all the neighboring nations who benefited from the stored-up grain. In the story of Joshua, he is introduced as the "servant of Moses" (Josh. 1:1). He is eventually converted into the "servant of Yahweh" (Josh. 24:29).
4
Upon Moses's death, Joshua is tasked with leading the Jewish people across the Jordan river and into the land of milk and honey. It is no easy feat, and Joshua and the Jewish people suffer some setbacks from time to time. Once Joshua and the Jewish people are settled in the Promised Land, his loyalty to the Lord
is established, he gives his final message of obedience to the Lord, and he is finally recognized as a servant of the Lord. 5
Although receiving a specific title was not why Joshua obeyed God, it is a testament to his love for God.
Godly Leaders are Humble
2
Forrest and Roden. Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader, 43.
3
Ibid
. 44.
4
Ibid
. 82.
5
Ibid
. 85.
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A biblical leader’s production of humility comes from a proper understanding of self in relationship with God, obedience to His Word, and acknowledgment of His divine wisdom.
6
Many kings in the OT placed themselves in the position of a god or attempted to (Isa. 14:12-15, Ezek. 28:2). On the other hand, the major prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel did not find themselves worthy of proclaiming God’s word. As the prophets humbled themselves, obeyed the
Word of God, remained faithful to their calling, and fulfilled their commission, they became the embodiment of His message.
7
The antithesis of humility is exemplified in leaders such as Saul, Jonah, Nebuchadnezzar,
and many more. Fortunately, “God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).
8
It is up to everyone to realize that only God is holy, and he alone has made us righteous. Forrest and Roden mention that God “delights in and dwells with those who are ‘contrite’ and have ‘a lowly spirit’”.
9
In the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself and proclaims his greatness for building such a great city (Dan. 4:30, ESV). God immediately rebukes and humbles him, sends him to live in the fields with the animals and eat grass, and at the end of seven years, he returns to praise and exalt Him. Nebuchadnezzar realizes the superiority of the God of Daniel and elevates him to the highest position in the kingdom, which only answers to the king. At the end of this Book, Daniel has set a time to humble himself and fast.
10
The result of humbleness and fasting leads Daniel to see a man, possibly God, and He tells Daniel of the future struggles between Israel and the other nations. God’s Leaders are Held Accountable
6
Forrest and Roden. Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader, 187.
7
Ibid
. 187.
8
Ibid
. 197.
9
Ibid
. 198.
10
Ibid
. 243.
Throughout the OT, leaders fail to obey the Word of God and receive His wrath. As Moses is leading the Israelites through the wilderness, he claims to have the ability to bring forth water from a rock (Num. 20:10, ESV). Although God could have struck down Moses at that moment, He allowed him to continue leading the Israelites until right before they crossed the Jordan. Moses’ punishment for making himself equal to God was that he would never see the Promised Land.
Instead of going off to war, king David decided to send Joab in his place, and he ended up sleeping with another man’s wife and impregnating her (2 Sam. 11:1-5). When David realized
he had sinned against the Lord, Nathan told him that God would not allow the son born from infidelity to live (2 Sam. 12:13-14). Even though God anointed David, he succumbed to the sin of this world because he was not where he should have been, at war. After all this, David’s next child would be the wisest that ever lived and the one to build the temple for the Lord.
In the time of Hosea, truth, mercy, and knowledge of God were lacking in the land.
11
Due
to His rejection, God then rejected the priests as the representative religious leaders on earth.
12
It was the work of the priests to ensure that the Law was written on the Israelites' hearts and that His people would do His will. In the book of Amos, he spoke of corruption and social injustice due to the upper class of society influencing the priests.
13
Regardless of who was more or less culpable of these atrocities, God promised the people unification and one king that would rule them all. Conclusion
In conclusion, God’s leaders are successful, God’s leaders are humble, and God’s leaders are held accountable, all because of God. Though these are not the only characteristics of a 11
Forrest and Roden. Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader, 207.
12
Ibid
. 207.
13
Ibid
. 208.
biblical leader, they are prevalent in the OT and relevant today. The leaders who were most successful are a reflection of Psalm 1:1-3, in which they do not stand with sinners and obey the Lord (Pss. 1:1-3, ESV). Furthermore, the leaders who humbled themselves before the Lord were lifted, not only in the flesh but in the spirit. Moreover, leaders in the OT were held accountable, which is what the apostle Paul says everyone must do before God (Rom. 14:12, ESV). Lastly, all
of these leadership characteristics are unified through the glory of God. Upon being chosen by God, leaders must humble themselves to His will to achieve success. These leaders faced God’s wrath without humility and suffered every time they went against His will.
Bibliography
Forrest, Benjamin K., and Roden, Chet, Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader
. Grand Rapids, MI.: Kregal Publications, 2017.
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