Leadership in Israel

The many Israels of history include---
The Israel of the Patriarchs
The Israel of the Kings, Priests & Temple
The Israel of the Prophets
The Israel of the Messiahs
The Israel of the Rabbis
The Israel of the Zionists
The Israel of the Politicians

Yet to come... is the Israel of God!

At one time or another, leadership in Israel has been exercised by one or another of the above, and at times, they have been in direct opposition to one another: Kings vs. Priests, Prophets vs. Priests, Messiahs vs. all of the above... The history of Israel has been a long, uninterrupted contest of leadership focused on the question: "Who (or what) shall lead us?" The answers have taken every conceivable form from Patriarch to Priest to Politician...to Idol. Each leadership has been tested and revealed to have feet of clay. Nebuchadnezzar, "mighty and of exceeding brightness" (Daniel 2:31-33), glorious in stature and raiment, had feet of clay. Isn't all leadership, finally, standing upon the clay feet of Adam?

Kings, princes, prophets, teachers, shepherds... have a long history of leading the people astray. "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule...my people love to have it so... But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away." (Jeremiah 5:23, 30-31) This same word can be found multiplied many times over, spoken to the kings, princes, teachers, shepherds... (Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 14:9-11, 44:10-11, 48:11, Isaiah 56:10-12)

In whatever form, the Saul "image" is presented---President, Pastor, or Prophet---the people are drawn to the magnetic personality, the charisma, the "presence", the stature, reputation... They love the "image" and will follow it, heeding every dramatic gesture. God's word of "Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings." is answered with a "But... that is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart." (Jeremiah 18:11-12)

Here the heart of "Followship" is revealed. The People have a long history of following their own desires, thoughts, self-delusions, faulty vision, corrupted leadership. The people follow not only their own desires but every religious charlatan, political ideology, or charismatic person...whether king, priest, or peasant. When that happens, then the perfect synergy of "Leadership" and "Followship" gives Israel a perfect storm of recurring fiery judgments from their God.

The Third Problem of "leadership" has to do with the "feet of clay." Though the feet (in Daniel) are a composite of clay and iron, they cannot stand the testing of God that always comes. The glorious brightness, images finely crafted and dressed, badges, banners... all these trappings, impressive as they may appear to be, cannot replace, cover, or mask the inherent weakness of the clay feet. Such feet may for a time conceal the truth of the Person, the Community, or the Nation, but sooner or later the "spirit" will be revealed and tested. Both the clay feet and the spirit will be tested. (Deut. 13:3) Faithful in the "small" things (Luke 16:10) is helpful but not decisive or sufficiently convincing. Everybody is "happy" on a carnival cruise in the kingdom of this world, but such a cruise reveals nothing: not the captain, not the crew, not the seaworthiness of the ship, and certainly nothing about the passengers. The "Titanic" reveals everybody and everything---in body, soul, and spirit. The Bread of Adversity (Isaiah 30:20), Jacob's Trouble, the "End", the Day of the Lord... all these are testings of standing. Will any form of leadership be able to stand, or will they all "fall" before the leadership of God? Can any kind of leadership bring fresh revelation? Or will it be conventional wisdom re-packaged, "old" news rewritten with a fresh slant... namely, the same old story with a fresh face or new coat of paint?

Consider: the leadership of ancient Israel was a "pillar of fire" and a "pillar of cloud" that went before the people... What a contrast to the leadership of Jacob, born of the fear of the flesh, which sought to "appease" Esau. Thus, gifts, the flocks, women and children were arranged and divided---Jacob's strategy of leadership! Or what a contrast to the leadership in many armies: the headquarters "hooch" way behind the "front line." Fair to ask who is actually taking the fire, really exposed to risk, injury, loss of life and limb? Who has "skin" in the game...? Who is invested with their own money and not playing with OPM (in banking parlance known as Other People's Money)? Paul succinctly speaks to the situation: "You have many guides, not many fathers." (1 Cor. 4:13) Guides will give you a map, tell you where to go, perhaps even accompany you a ways, but it is not in their job description to risk their neck. In the best armies you get to be an officer by being in the "Front Line."

In Genesis (6:4, 11:4), the "mighty men" determined to "build a Tower" to heaven. They were seeking to make a Name for themselves. If there be any such thing as true leadership will it manifest these qualities? These qualities in the spirit?

Finally, if there be any such thing as true leadership does accountability to some other authority have to be operating? Are the finances published, particularly, when money comes from outside sources? In the political realm billions of dollars move here, there, and everywhere: to buy access, favor, or privilege, or...? In religion, billions of dollars are solicited, move here, there, and everywhere: to what godly purpose...?

The problem of the false leadership of King, Priest, or Teacher has been historically countered by the raising up of the Prophet. What to do when the false prophets of Jezebel and the King's Court Prophets mislead the people? The hirelings are eating at whose table?

"Lead, follow, or get out the way!" is a familiar and common expression in the military and corporate world. Is this a statement God would make? Or is this a subtle variation on the the theme of "Making kings, but not through me (Yahweh). And they shall cease for a little while from anointing kings and princes." (Hosea 8:4, 10)? Man anoints the man. God anoints the gift of His Spirit. Is not this the sense of the "anointing" that abides, teaches, causes one to know (1 John 2:20, 27)? And if the gift, Holy Spirit, and anointing are present, you have no need for a king, priest, prophet, teacher... to lead ... because in that day all shall know from the least to the greatest.

"Those who lead this people lead them astray... and those who are led by them are swallowed up." (Isaiah 9:13-16)
"But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead away with evil doers! Peace be in Israel! (Psalm 125:5)
Leadership that is not in accordance to the Word of the Torah is not anointed by anything but the traditions of men. The Living Torah of the Word leadeth the sheep of Israel. Leadership that disposes of the Torah of the God of Israel cannot, and will not, be anointed by the God of Israel. Simply said, "He who says 'I know him,' but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) From the simplest oath, to the gossip, to fairy tales and myths, to the rebellion... is there anything here you don't understand, or that is not covered by His Word?

What is the leadership for Israel?

"Jacob (in spite of his fear!)...Yahweh alone did lead him." (Deut. 32:9-12)
"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me. Make me to know thy ways, O Yahweh...teach me thy paths" (Psalm 25:4-5) Thus says David.
"So thou didst lead thy people, to make for thyself a glorious name. (Isaiah 63:14)
"Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth." (Nehemiah 9:19-20)
"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own by name and leads them out." (John 10:3, 4)

Finally...
"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock! ...shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh! Stir up thy might, and come to save us!