Lead Strong: Leadership Lessons From The Bible - Part 1Sample

Leaders Are Obedient

What comes to mind when you think of the word obedience? Laws? Religion? Leadership? Judges chapters 6 and 7 illustrate Gideon’s obedient leadership as he conquered the Midianite army. We may be familiar with this story, but how often have we considered the amount of obedience it must have taken for Gideon to listen to the Lord and reduce his armies down to only 300 to challenge an army that was “too numerous to count”?

In my own life, I struggle to obey God in the little things, let alone things that are a matter of life and death against insurmountable odds. I can’t honestly tell you that I would have made the same decision to be immediately obedient in this situation. Obedience, though, was the key to Gideon’s success and is the key to our success as leaders.

What is obedience? Gideon’s story shows us what obedience is and what it is not. Obedience is not action in the absence of doubt. It is action, taken in faith, in the midst of doubt. Judges is riddled with doubt. It begins in chapter 6 verse 13 where Gideon questions God three times during their first encounter. Even though God dispels Gideon’s doubt, it arises again only a few sentences later when Gideon asks God to prove himself by performing two miracles. Each time God proves himself and Gideon responds with obedience. God isn’t offended by Gideon’s doubt; instead God acknowledges it openly (chapter 7 verse 10). God still uses Gideon because, although he has a doubt-filled mind, he has an obedient heart.

As leaders, obedience is critically important for us and this is why obedience leads to blessing, where disobedience leads to destruction. Gideon wasn’t the only one to express doubt to God in this story – the Israelites did, too. In both cases, God was doubted, God proved himself, and God gave directions. The Israelites were disobedient and were lead into destruction and slavery; Gideon was obedient and was given unbelievable victory over his enemies.

Obedience requires us to acknowledge that we are not God, we aren’t in control and we are willing to be lead. God won’t use leaders who are not willing to be led by Him. He will, however, use leaders who are willing to be lead and who are obedient in their actions in the midst of doubt. So which will you be?

By Kaylee Zentai