Who Will Lead?

I will admit it…I like to be in charge. I think we all do to a certain extent. We like to be in charge of our own decisions. We like to be in charge of where we go and what we do. We like to be masters of our own ship and king of our own castle. But the truth is that we all live under the authority of something or someone else.

We all live under the authority of need. We need food and water and shelter to survive and thrive in this mortal life. So we work and save and plan. We live under the authority of the government. We live under the authority of parents and even friends. We surrender to all kinds of authority in our lives. Sometimes that authority chafes and sometimes it is easy. But we all live under authority. The important thing is to choose what kind of authority we will live under.

In our reading this week we see an interesting period in the history of Israel. It is a time of transition when the people of God are making decisions about how they want to be lead, what kind of authority they will live under.

It all started out as a simple family living in Canaan. Jacob and his twelve sons and his daughter lived in peace in the land that God had promised to Abraham. Authority was firmly established. Jacob was the father and so he made the decisions. But his authority was marred by a love for a special son and the rebellion of his brothers. So things changed.

Joseph matured in Egypt. First as a slave then as a prisoner then as a ruler of man. He helped feed a nation and so met up again with his family. He brought them to live in Egypt where they settled in a good land and prospered. Then things changed.

There rose a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph. He only knew that the Israelites would make good slaves. So he put them to work and oppressed them. Until God sent Moses to lead His people out of slavery. Ten plagues changed everything.

The people left Egypt and went to Sinai. Here God formed a family into a nation. He gave them a Law and an identity. They were the people of God’s own choosing. A people belonging to the Lord. Through rebellion, wandering, and the conquest of Canaan, the people grew. Each step of the way was guided by the authority of God. But eventually that changed.

In 1 Samuel the people have decided to reject the leadership of God. They go to Samuel and ask for a king. Samuel goes to God, angry at the request of the people, but God is ready to allow the people free will. God gives them the freedom to choose their leadership. They choose to follow the ways of the world. The results will be disastrous.

Being in charge comes with a grave responsibility. Being in charge means we make decisions that affect the entire course of our future. God wants what is best for us, so He offers us His leadership. He calls for our surrender. It is hard at times, but well worth it. You see, God has a view of the future that we can never have. God knows the hearts of men like we can never know. God calls us to standards that are higher than we can imagine and then empowers us with strength beyond ourselves. But it begins with surrendering to God’s authority.

The most important decision that I can make is to live under the authority of God. This means giving up control. This means that I am not in charge. But that is OK. God offers something better. He offers Himself. So ask yourself the question, “Who will lead?”