An Unlikely Leader

How likely are you to be a leader? Are you a natural born leader, a leader only when you have to be, or always a follower? Gideon didn’t start out as a leader, but that’s what God called him to do. He seemed to be a very unlikely leader.

[33] Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. [34] Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. [35] He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. Judges 6:33-35

You can see from these Scriptures that the enemies of God’s people were joining together getting ready to attack. This tells you that the enemy is preparing to invade your territory. Do you ever feel like the enemy has been joining forces, breathing down your neck and getting ready to hit you with full force? How are you assembling forces against evil? How can you combat an enemy that is so strong? Are you asking your family and friends to pray for you? You can win against the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We can see in verse 34 that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. In the natural, Gideon didn’t have the ability to lead others. Remember, he hid when threshing wheat so the enemy wouldn’t find him. He hid from the townsmen by destroying their idol at night. He hid behind his father when the townsmen came to his house to kill him. By natural standards, Gideon was not a leader. But when God called him to lead, He gave him the ability to lead through the power of the Holy Spirit. Once the Spirit was on him, he blew a trumpet to gather the Abiezrites, his fellow clan, to fight with him. He started gathering an army from his own family first, and then from the surrounding areas. So, how are you leading your family? And how has God called you to lead your friends, neighbors or co-workers? If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the  Holy Spirit and His power in you.  And you can rest in the fact that God won’t ask you to do anything He doesn’t equip you to do. 

So the big question is, “Why did God pick Gideon to lead others?” He was fearful, young and not at all confident in his abilities. And that’s exactly why God picked him. For Gideon to lead others would give God more glory than if someone were to lead who had natural leadership abilities. This way, people knew it was God who was at work because they knew that Gideon couldn’t lead like that. Perhaps you feel like an unlikely leader. Maybe God has called you to do something that seems impossible. God chose you because it would give Him the most glory. God may be calling you to lead, but He doesn’t expect you to do it on your own. He expects that you will lead others through the power of the Holy Spirit and while you are following Him. Good leaders are also good followers. No, let me restate that…Good leaders are God followers. If you’re not following God, then it’s like the blind leading the blind. Jesus said in Luke 6:39-40, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Our teacher and leader should be Jesus Christ. If it’s not then you’re leading people in the wrong direction and you’ll wind up in a pit sooner or later, and most likely with a few casualties. I found this quote from an unknown source. It said, “A leader has been defined as one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Leader’s must have a vision and a plan. (Pr 29:18 KJV – “Where there is no vision, the people perish….”) Know where God is leading you, go where God is leading you, and show others where God is leading you. Then you will find that though you might be an unlikely leader, others will be following you to the glory of God!


*All Scripture References are from the New International Version except where noted.
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