Take me to your Leader

We now enter the book of Judges. Feel free to glance over December’s blog entries to refresh your memory of where we left off. By the way, “judge” is translated to simply be another word for “leader.”

Following Joshua’s death, God appoints Judah to replace him as leader. And, as pattern will dictate, the fighting returns, mainly with the Canaanites. Apparently, custom dictated the cutting off the thumbs and big toes of defeated kings before they were killed. Now think about it; can you imagine how that reduces one’s activities, not to mention the humiliation?

Most of Judges is taken up with on-again off-again fighting. Subsequent generations of the Israelites lose sight of what their daddies and granddaddies went through and the covenant with God. They stray big time (no details of how) and each time God gets pissed and sends them defeat at the hands of untold enemies. And in battle, victories are seen as God’s clear intervention, but defeats are seen as a result of their disobedience. God is never blamed. He get all credit and none of blame. Then He brings them another judge (leader) and they straighten up. And of course, these are effective, successful leaders because it is always stated that they had been chosen by God. Any period without leadership and order goes willy-nilly. “…when [each] judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers.” People do not seem able to lead themselves.

Confession #56: This passage clearly speaks to humans’ need for leadership. Whether conductor, football coach, CEO or president, our species does seem to need that role. I wonder why. Shouldn’t true self-actualization mean one can and does govern himself wisely? Oh well. We have just elected a new president in this country, and I think an overriding factor in his success (all policies and resume aside) lies in his inherent qualities as a leader. Temperament, thinking and decision-making process, values, compatibilities, these are what probably compelled many to flip the lever to Mr. Obama. Although I am sure I will disagree with some things he does (I already have some argument with some of the bail-out targets), I feel an intrinsic trust in the qualities above mentioned.

• For a terrific read on leadership, I recommend Elizabeth I, CEO by Alan Axelrod. 

It examines how brilliantly Queen Elizabeth led England in the Renaissance revealed short, entertaining, illustrative anecdotes. 

 

Confession #57: Each of us is put in positions of leadership, large or small, long-term or short-term, whether boss, parent, or community organizer. The Bible offers interesting models to pattern one’s self after or avoid. I think this is a subject worth examining so that we choose good leaders and become good leaders when called upon.