A consistent theme in the prophets is that leaders are supposed to trust God and provide for the people. When they don’t do this, they come under God’s condemnation.
For the teraphim utter nonsense,
and the diviners see lies;
the dreamers tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they suffer for lack of a shepherd.
My anger is hot against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders,
for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them like his proud war horse. Zechariah 10.2-3
The teraphim, diviners, and dreamers all have something in common: they attempt to predict the future to enable people to decide how to live their lives.
The problem is that they are false and unreliable, and infinitely below the character and wisdom of God.
The average person is dependent on leaders to give them direction. When leaders engage in idolatry and self-serving behavior, the people are left to be like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus fully understood Zechariah’s observation: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9.36).
Jesus’ answer for harmful leadership was to engage more people in His mission.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9.37-38).
When we pray for laborers in the harvest, what does it look like? The next verse provides a picture of what Jesus meant for his followers to do as they labored in the harvest.
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness (Matthew 10.1).
Our understanding of laborers is often seen as roles within the church. This includes Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, ushers, and similar positions. Occasionally, this perspective may broaden to include sharing the gospel with friends and neighbors.
However, when Jesus spoke of laborers, he referred to individuals engaged in ministries of healing and deliverance from evil.
Jesus proclaimed the coming of God’s kingdom and instructed that laborers within His kingdom were to adopt the role historically designated for leaders. This involved ensuring the well-being of others, setting people free from evil, and providing every opportunity for individuals to enter into God’s best for their lives.
Our son John has taken this approach: he works at a job where he’s free to pray for other co-workers. He’s written a small book on the subject that you can find on Amazon. I think you’ll like it.
On one occasion a co-worker was healed and said to John, “What did you do?”
John responded and said, “I didn’t do anything. Jesus did it. He loves you.” I think that is an attractive way to introduce God’s kingdom to others.
The question for all of us is: how can we cooperate with God to join Him in His activity? John has found his way. What is yours?
Experiencing God
I particularly like Henry Blackaby’s approach in his book, “Experiencing God.” Blackaby says it all begins with a love relationship with God.
God doesn’t want us just to work for Him; He wants to be our friend. In that relationship, God will give us an assignment.
God will show us where He is working and then invite us to join Him. Very often, what God shows us is a God-sized task that only He can accomplish.
As we trust God to work, He will work through us and grant people an experience of His presence and love.
I could easily have taken my blog article in a different direction than the one I did today. I could have talked about the bad leadership that is plaguing the world we’re living in.
I’m sure you are aware that Jesus had horrible leadership when he walked the face of the earth.
He told a very bad leader, Pilate, that his kingdom was not of this world. He sent his people out with a different mission and message, the kingdom of God, through healing, deliverance, and salvation.
In this chaotic world, we may not be able to do much to change leaders, but we can find our place of service in God’s kingdom.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 