-Oh, of course. I don’t mean to imply that one can either choose to be a leader or be surrendered to God. But I will say God seemed particularly interested in using the non-leaders. The reason is obvious: a good leader who makes a difference for God can still receive some of the credit. But a fool who makes a difference for God has no claim to the credit. They’re fools, after all.

I certainly struggle with that fact, though. I mean, we are a leadership culture. Great leaders are our heroes.

I wonder what the balance is. Any thoughts?

Isn’t that the point?

That we see how God, time and time again, used complete fools to accomplish his work? They had no room to boast, precisely because they weren’t leaders.

And that is where the whole leadership paradigm gets flipped on its head. It is not about our abilities at all, it is about God’s. And, as it turns out, surrending ourselves to God makes for the best leaders of all.

When I realised that the bible isn’t basically about me, but is about Jesus, who lived out the best possible life, it started to make more sense to me. Not only that – it became a liberation.

I think this is a warranted way of looking at the scriptures because of what Jesus himself said about the bible. In his discussion with the pharisees he rebuked them for not understanding that the scriptures point to him, for example.

And on the road to Emmaus, he called his companions “foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”

When he went on to say “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” he then demonstrated to them all the things written there concerning himself. Significantly, he began with Moses and all the Prophets. What that means is that he considered the whole of the old testament to be about himself.

I read a helpful quote which says it much better here: http://www.reformationtheology.com/2008/04/its_about_him.php

Its about Him

“Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you — it’s about Him.”

You have criticized many for there “eyes”, I am just wondering if this post betrays something you have not thought about.

I’d love to hear your response of which I expect would teach me a little bit more about how you approach the Bible and give me insight on how to view your work.

Love Fred’s comments in ‘Leadership’, particularly the 1st point: “did the leaders in scripture focus so much on the principles of leadership and developing themselves as leaders…than God etc”

This whole business of trying to do something BIG in a formulaic fashion for God is odorous, and frankly, it is not what the Bible teaches. For it is GOD who initiates vision and leaders NOT man. Moses, Gideon etc etc etc …

George, PLEASE give us a hint so we can have a look at this article for ourselves.

bignorm.net

Can we not get beyond our own reality to see the truth of God’s word and how to apply it in daily life? I would be entirely satisfied to follow a leader who continues to become more like Jesus. If you can’t understand how to use Jesus as your leadership model, please contact me.

I haven’t read the article you referenced, but wonder if the author might be suggesting (intentionally or unintentionally) that they sense a disconnect between the leaders they see in scripture and the ideas/ideals of Christian leaders(ship) today.

For example- did the leaders in scripture focus so much on the principles of leadership and developing themselves as leaders- or more on letting God develop them as His follwers? Were they only deemed great leaders because of their great success and effectiveness- or were some of the leaders we look to in scripture rather “unsuccessful” by today’s standards? (Like Moses maybe?) Were they always initiative takers- or did they often have to be coerced into leadership by God? Were they powerful vision casters- or did they people they led often misunderstand, drag their feet or even rebel? Were they genius strategic planners- or were their plans frustrated by God so that He could lead them towards what He had in mind- but would rarely tell them directly so that they could capture it in a 5-year plan?

I agree with you that there are great leaders to learn from in the scripture with lots of wisdom (gained through some success, some failure and plenty of suffering) to offer us. However, I wonder how these leaders would feel about/stack up against our ideals of Christian leadership today.