Introduction
While there are no Hebrew words for the word “leadership,” there are a number of words that are used that help create a schema of leadership in the Old Testament.[1] Leadership was occurring in the Old Testament, whether it was labeled that word in Hebrew or not. The Old Testament abounds with a plethora of examples and principles of leadership. Many of the ancient Godly leaders one can look to for help in gaining insight and understanding as to how to be a leader that pleases God are Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, David, Solomon, Daniel, and Nehemiah.[2]
There are a number of factors that go into making a Godly leader. Moses was known for humility, and Joshua was an example of succeeding a leader, just to name a few. All of them left a legacy, whether good or bad. And they all had to depend on God to lead them. With that said, for the sake of this work, the focus will be placed on four aspects of leadership, among many others, humility, Godly legacy, God being over human leadership, and depending on God alone will be examined.
Theme One: Humility
In chapter four of Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader, Noonan & Noonan state that “a good leader is humble and does not overreach or take the role of God; rather, leaders accept the support that God sends and serve out of a strong sense of calling and gifting while allowing and encouraging others to also exercise their God-given gifts.”[3] Probably the greatest example of a humble leader in the Old Testament is Moses. As Numbers 12:3 attests about Moses, “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”
Humility is very important for leaders for many reasons. As Noonan & Noonan state in relation to the lesson that can be learned from the advice that Moses accepted from his father-in-law Jethro, “Like Moses, we can become too absorbed in the work we think we are supposed to be doing (and so absorbed in ourselves) that we get a God complex, trying to do everything and be everything to everyone.”[4] Humility allows a leader to not only accept advice from those that follow them and other unlikely sources, it also allows them to focus more of their time and energy on the things that God has called them to do and where they are gifted.[5] Moreover, one who is humble will look to give recognition to those that made contributions. By acknowledging the contribution or giving credit, the leader is validating what the other person has done.[6] It motivates others to want to continue to contribute and helps them feel good about themselves. Blanchard & Hodges in Lead Like Jesus concurs with the aforementioned points when they say, “As a leadership trait, humility is a heart attitude that reflects a keen understanding of your limitations to accomplish something on your own. It gives credit to forces other than your own knowledge or effort when a victory is won or when an obstacle is overcome.”[7]
One way humility in a servant leader manifests is them acknowledging that they do not have all of the answers and are willing to receive help from whatever source that God sends their way. It also means they rely on God for their guidance and strength. Therefore, they are able to trust and know that God is in control. It is His plan and not their plan that will be done. This kind of humility provides the leader freedom to delegate responsibilities and authority to others, which in turn allows those they serve to exercise their God-given gifts for the advancement of the Kingdom. Malphurs makes an astute statement about how followers respond to leaders who exhibit humility and those that do not when he says, “They can spot proud leaders from a distance and have little respect for them. And if they follow their leadership at all, it’s because they have to, not because they want to. On the other hand, these same people are usually open to following humble leaders who have right motives.”[8]
Theme Two: Godly Legacy
It is necessary for leaders to leave a Godly legacy because of how that impacts future generations. Leaders must be ever conscious of the fact that they are influencing the people that follow them, and those people, in turn, will influence other people, including the children that will be the leaders of the next generation. Forward momentum must be maintained by continuously actively choosing God and His will over one’s own will. Otherwise, within a few generations, a nation will descend rather quickly from God’s plan and will. As a leader goes, morally, their followers will keep in step and do likewise.
Part of leaving a Godly legacy goes beyond setting and maintaining a Godly example to the masses. It also involves the preparation and appointment of one’s successor. As humans are finite and will eventually reach their end on this earth, it becomes paramount that Godly successors be prepared and appointed to continue the forward momentum of leading the people toward God and advancing His will. The succession of Joshua as Moses prepared to be gathered up to his people (die) is one of the greatest examples of succession in the Bible. A humble leader, such as Moses, submitted to God’s plan and asked the Lord to provide a successor, which He indicated Joshua would be.[9] Blanchard & Hodges state, “One aspect of a job well done as a servant leader is how well we have prepared others to carry on after our season of leadership influence is completed.”[10] Christian leaders nowadays, just like in the ancient past, need to set and maintain high moral standards because that is what the Lord requires. He says in I Peter 1:16, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Likewise, in Matthew, it says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Thus, if this is the requirement by God for His people, then it is the same for His leaders, and even more so because leaders influence others either toward God or away from Him.
The second and final post will discuss the last two themes of leadership in the Old Testament, which are God is Over Human Leadership and Depending on God Alone, and offer a conclusion.
[1]. Pettus, David, “A Concept Study: Leadership in Old Testament Hebrew,” in Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader, ed. by Benjamin K. Forrest and Chet Roden. (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2017), 30. [2]. Howell, Don N., Jr. Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership. Eugene: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2003), 21-122. [3]. Noonan, Jennifer E. and Benjamin J. Noonan, “Jethro, Moses, and Humility: Leadership in the Pentateuch,” in Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader, ed. by Benjamin K. Forrest and Chet Roden. (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2017), 75. [4]. Ibid., 80. [5]. Ibid., 79-80. [6]. Maxwell, John. Developing the Leader Within You. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1993), 124. [7]. Blanchard, Ken and Phil Hodges. Lead Like Jesus. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), 66. [8]. Malphurs, Aubrey. Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2003), 35. [9]. Howell, Don N., Jr. Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership. (Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2003), 37. [10]. Blanchard, Ken and Phil Hodges. Lead Like Jesus. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), 45.
Comments