The Gospel According to God By John MacArthur – Chapter 9 & 10 Reflection:
What did you learn about the significance of leadership through the kings of Israel?
Reading through these chapters and seeing how the leadership if Judah went from good (Uzziah and Jotham) to bad (Ahaz), back to good (Hezekiah), to worse (Manasseh), then to best (Josiah), and finally to worst (Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim), I was reminded of another book I read in the past. That is, I was reminded of The Resolution for Men by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. I think what reminded me of this book was when John MacArthur wrote, “Yet despite Hezekiah’s reforms, the people of Judah generally remained half-hearted, earthly minded, and spiritually complacent—easily led one way or the other.”
The Resolution for Men, written around the movie Courageous, is all about spiritual leadership, specifically for husbands and fathers, and our call to be the spiritual leaders in the home. What resonated with me this week was something I read in chapter three of this book. Titled, “Becoming A Chain Breaker,” it is all about breaking the chains of sin in our families. It describes a “chain breaker” as the fork in the road that leads the family away from sin and toward God or vice versa. Here is one quote that I believe is significant when considering the story of the kings of Israel is as follows. “The generations of a family will lead one another further and further away from God unless a chain breaker steps up and turns things around–because although children are not punished for the sins of their parents, they are definitely affected and negatively influenced by them.”
I had hoped to find another exert from The Resolution for Men. One that has stuck with me ever since reading it several years ago, but was unable to locate it (it may have been from another book, I honestly can’t remember), so I can’t quote it here. But essentially, it talks about how we have the power to lead our wives and children either toward God or away from Him, and that decision has a ripple effect that can last for generations and is exponential. Specifically, in regards to our children who, as we teach them, they teach their children, who then teach theirs, and so on. The bottom line is that the influence we have on our families, whether good or bad, can last for generations.
Now there is a significant difference, regarding spiritual influence, between a husband/father and a king. A husband/father has far more impact on the spiritual condition of his family than a king does on his kingdom simply because of proximity. Therefore I would argue this responsibility is far greater for the husband/father. However, I believe the same principle applies in any position of leadership, regardless of proximity.
So in light of all this, the problem that Israel faced wasn’t just that they had some evil leaders, but it was that they had a lack of consistent good leaders. Leadership kept flip-flopping from good to bad. Each of the kings MacArthur writes about in these chapters was a “chain breaker.” Each was a fork in the road. Some broke the chains of sin, leading the people toward God, and some broke the chains that led to God, leading the people to sin.
As I sit here typing and chewing on all of this, I found myself asking the question; If Israel had both Godly and evil leaders, why then did they go the way of evil and not the way of God? I think the answer is really at the root of what we see in the story of the kings of Israel, the nation of Israel, and also the world we live in today. Because of the depravity of man, because of our inclination to sin, inconsistent leadership will never produce Godliness.
What attributes and qualifications are most important to you in a leader?
Servant
But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:43-45)
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:13-16)
Humility
He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10)
Above reproach, faithful, self-controlled, hospitable, holy, and disciplined
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach (1 Tim 3:2)
For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (Titus 1:7-8)
Selflessness
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil 2:3-4)
Perseverance
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Gal 6:9)
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)