Thought for the Week

What about bad leaders? Does God ever punish them? The answer is mixed. Sometimes God does intervene in the affairs of men. Frequently that is in answer to prayer. But sometimes it is simply because God needs to bring judgment. God has struck down religious leaders. Some examples of this happen because those religious leaders disobeyed direct commands from God. I said last week, “Leaders must follow a code.” A story in Leviticus 10, tells of Nadab and Abihu, heirs apparent to the High Priesthood, who offered incense, but not the recipe God required. They mixed up incense of their own recipe. God sent fire and killed them. Eli, the High Priest, lost two sons who were immoral and evil men. God brought about their deaths and then the death of Eli, the High Priest, their father who did not punish or restrain their evil. Korah, a Levite (one who serves as a temple worker) coveted a higher role as priest, made an attempt to depose Aaron, the High Priest and take his place. God opened the earth to swallow Korah for his evil (see Numbers 16). King Saul, the political leader of Israel was punished and lost his kingdom because he did not fully obey God. He was the first – but not the only – king who lost his kingdom because of disobeying God’s command. King Rehoboam lost a great portion of his kingdom because of his arrogance in placing undue burdens on his people. King Uzziah was very powerful but the power led to pride. He chose to assume some of the duties of a priest and because of his pride, God struck him with the disease of leprosy. He was confined to a house and no longer sat on the throne or was able to rule as he had before. I tried to think of a family leader who was punished or removed by God as leader of the family. The only one I can think about is Esau. He was firstborn son of Isaac and as firstborn, would have had the leadership of the family. This would have made him Leader of family and spiritual leader as well. Esau “despised” his birthright and sold it for a “bowl of stew.” He thereby gave up (God did not take away) his family/spiritual leadership. Now these all had to do with Israel. Did God ever interfere with or punish worldly leaders? I can think of Nebuchadnezzar who was king of Babylon. The Prophet Daniel warned him not to be proud. For a while, he heeded Daniel’s warnings but one night in his pride, he boasted of “his” accomplishments. Immediately, he lost his mind or went insane. For the next seven years, he lived as s wild animal. But later, he somehow remembered Daniel’s warning, repented and was restored to his position and leadership (see Daniel 4). Another king, Herod (see Acts 12), gave a speech. The people who heard it wanted to win his king’s favor and proclaimed he spoke with the voice of God. He accepted this homage rather than giving God glory. He was stricken with a case of carnivorous worms and died. We knew God was very much involved with Israel but we can see God also gets involved with the leadership of the world as well. It would seem to me that anyone who is in a position of leadership should carefully consider that he is not only responsible for the welfare of those he leads but must ultimately give an accounting of his leadership to God., to Whom he is responsible. God does care.

Scriptures to Read

I Samuel 15:10-23

I Samuel 3:11-18

Leviticus 10:1-3

II Chronicles 26:16-23

Genesis 25:27-34

Daniel 4:27-37

Acts 12:19-25