Everything rises and falls on leadership. Good leadership bring
growth to organizations. Bad leadership kills organizations.
Churches rises and falls on leadership. Many-a-times we, as
Christian leaders, are quick to blame the devil for our failures and incompetence’s.
However, the Book says, “Strike the shepherd and the sheep are scattered.” Satan’s
main aim is the leadership. He uses bad leadership to destroys churches. As such,
we need to equip ourselves with excellent leadership skills that will take us
to the next levels.
There are many great leaders in the Bible and one who of
those who stands out amongst others is Deborah.
Deborah was a wife, prophetess, judge, and national leader.
What she accomplished over 3000 years ago for the nation of Israel is a helpful
case study in applied leadership. Her story, found in Judges 4-5, can benefit
every leader in the various circles of our lives.
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| Deborah’s Leadership Qualities |
Deborah’s public life reveals the following four
characteristics of an effective leader:
1. Deborah led when times were difficult.
Deborah rose to leadership at a dark time in Israel’s
history. Israel was in decline. It had fallen away from God, and was in need of
a deliverer. Judges 4:1-3 declares, “The Israelites once again did evil in the
eyes of the Lord … they cried to the Lord for help.” Deborah says in Judges
5:7, “Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a
mother in Israel.” Deborah arose when Israel needed new leadership to stop its
fall. She did what great leaders do and that is to grow strong and step forward
when times are difficult.
2. Deborah spoke with authority.
Leaders are subject matter experts within their sphere of influence.
They add value, bring solutions, and speak with authority. Judges 4:4 says
Deborah was “a prophetess … leading Israel at the time.” The nation of Israel
respected Deborah as someone who spoke with authority concerning the things of
God. While you may not be a national leader like Deborah, you can learn to
speak with authority within your own area of influence. Establish credibility
by excelling at your assignments and helping others do the same with theirs.
Earning the respect of those around you is the first step toward becoming their
leader.
3. Deborah’s followers acknowledged her leadership.
Leaders are magnets, not bulldozers, and Deborah was a
magnet. Judges 4:5 says, “She held court under the Palm of Deborah … and the
Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.” Deborah made good use
of all the gifts and opportunities God sent her way. There is no hint in the
Judges 4-5 passage of Deborah being a self-promoter. She magnified God and
served his people. Deborah’s followers were better off for having spent time
with her. People are attracted to the Deborahs of the world. Deborah didn’t
have to fight her way up the organizational ladder. She was summoned by God and
acknowledged by her followers.
4. Deborah led by example.
Deborah, Israel’s leader, called Barak, Israel’s military
commander, and instructed him to attack the army of Jabin, the king of Canaan
who was oppressing Israel. Barak agreed to go and fight Jabin’s army, but with
one condition. Judges 4:8 declares, “Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I
will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’” She replies in Judges 4:9,
“Very well,’ Deborah said, ‘I will go with you.”’ Deborah led by example. She
was not a warrior or battle commander and could have easily said she would be
of better use by remaining behind, but she did not do that. She faced reality
and exposed herself to the full consequences of her decision. Under Deborah’s
leadership, Israel’s enemy was defeated, the oppression was lifted, and Israel
returned to the God of Abraham. Her story concludes in Judges 5:31 with these
final words, “Then the land had peace forty years.”
Pause and think! What will we say about your leadership at
the end of this year?
Farayi Muzari
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