May 4, 2019
“Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.” —I Samuel 14:21-22 NKJV
King Saul sat under his pomegranate tree unwilling or unable to rouse himself to lead his people. It took his brave/foolhardy son Jonathan to make a daring special ops raid on an enemy garrison to awaken Saul to leadership. In fact, it was Jonathan who was the leader, not Saul. One of the amazing results of genuine leadership is how it brings people out of the woodwork. Jonathan’s aggressiveness inspired Hebrews who had defected to the enemy to join the fight. Those who had hidden in fear were suddenly emboldened to become the warriors they were meant to be.
Leaders often succumb to the temptation to reject or punish those whose weaknesses induce them to become traitors or simply retreat in fear. “I’ll never trust him again!” Is an emotion that too often becomes a self-defeating reality. Jonathan didn’t reject the delayed loyalty of those who weren’t brave enough to continue in what appeared to be a lost cause. He prefigures Jesus who instead of writing off Peter after the latter’s threefold denial, reaches out and welcomes the now humbled fisherman, entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the fledgling church.
Real leadership is not only a matter of vision and inspiration. It requires character strong enough to forgive and lead those who have disappointed and even betrayed you. There is an abundance of “almost” leaders, but a dearth of those strong enough to lead as Jonathan and Jesus. I am grateful for those who have led me like this, and pray for wisdom and grace to be that kind of leader myself.
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