Have you spotted any specific problems that need a leader to take action? (78-1)
“These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience)…They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands which He had given their forefathers through Moses” (Judges 3:1-4). God desires the success of His people and will give the necessary resources to win and even teach, train and test His people. God also provides the leaders and leadership needed to help His people succeed. Effective leaders find a way to help their team win. Read Judges 3:1-33.
Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz, found his people surrounded by enemies from Mesopotamia. God put His Spirit on Othniel and he stepped forward, led the armies of Israel and prevailed. This victory led to 40 years of peace until the leader died.
Later, after Moab formed an alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites, they attacked Israel, won and forced Israel to be their servants for 18 years. God raised up Ehud, gave him great courage and a stealth plan and equipped him as His leader to lead the people to victory. The peace lasted 80 years.
Israel’s third judge was Shamgar who “killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad” and rallied the people over Philistia.
Each of these leaders was called by God. Even though they were called by God each leader had to use their free will to choose to follow God. Each of these leaders had some elements in common that we can learn from:
- Each of these leaders spotted a specific problem that required action.
- Each of these leaders had the competence to address the need.
- Each of these leaders had the passion to act.
- Each of these leaders had the ability to influence others and persuade them to join them in God’s cause.
- Each of these leaders employed whatever measure it took to accomplish the desired goal.
Have you spotted any specific problems in your area of responsibility that need a leader to take action? If God has allowed you to see the problem and yet you have not taken action, have you asked yourself why? In almost every case it will be a perceived lack of competence, a lack of passion, the fear that you will not be able to influence others to join you or the fear of failure. If God allowed you to see the problem, can you trust Him to use you to be His person to lead your team to win?
