1.
In Genesis 6, God is very sad and disappointed about the wickedness that
has overtaken humanity. Reluctantly, he decides to wipe out the human race
and start from scratch. Noah, however, is the only one who has been good.
You know the story. God tells him to build an ark that will save him, his
family, and animal life. As he is boarding the ark, God says to him, “for you
alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.” Literally the whole
world was doing what was wrong. But did that stop Noah from doing what
was right? Not a chance!
1.
Noah:
Leaders
do what’s right
even if they are
alone
2.
God approaches Abraham in Genesis 12 and tells him to “Go forth from
your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the
land which I will show you.” In other words, Abraham is instructed to leave
his comfort zone and march onward into uncertainty. As leaders it can be
hard to take risk when we don’t know what is going to happen in the future!
Great leaders are okay with not knowing the future, because they know the
truth: the promised land awaits them.
2.
Abraham:
Leaders
welcome the
unknown
3.
The story of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37 is powerful. The guy had a
pretty tough life. He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. His father
was told that he was killed by a wild animal. He was framed by his boss’s wife
and was thrown into prison. He interpreted the dream of a prisoner who was
released and restored to his position, but the guy forgot about him. In the
end, though, Joseph became the leader of all Egypt
–
second only to the
Pharaoh himself. When there is a famine, he is then able to save his family
from starvation. He tells his brothers when he sees them again that, though
they meant to harm him, God made it happen so that Joseph was in a
position to save them. Leaders have a vision that keeps them going through
difficult times.
3.
Joseph:
Leaders
bounce back from
tough situations
4.
Yes, it’s true. God has to be very convincing in order to get Moses to
take action in Exodus 3. He at first gives excuse after excuse as to why he
isn’t the right guy for the job. When he finally does answer though, Moses,
approaches Pharaoh and boldly passes on the important message: “Let my
people go.” The Israelites, Moses’ native people, had been made slaves by
Egypt and Moses was the one chosen to lead them to freedom. When the
time came, Moses was willing to step up and lead.
4.
Moses:
Leaders
stick up for their
people
5.
In Joshua 24, after leading his people into a new land, Joshua offers the
Israelites the option to either A) serve the God who they had always
served, the one who had brought them into the land or B) serve the gods
of the surrounding lands. “But as for me and my house,” Joshua says, “we
will serve the Lord.” All the people answer together, that they will pledge
their allegiance to God. Because they believe in Joshua’s leadership, they
follow Joshua’s example. He doesn’t have to threaten or boss them
around; he just inspires them by his example.
5.
Joshua:
Leaders
rule by example
rather than by just
bossing people
around
6.
Everybody knows this story. In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites are being de-
feated by the Philistines and their 9
foot tall giant,
Goliath. Goliath teases
the Israelites and challenges them to send him one man and, if that man
should defeat him, the Philistines would become their servants. David, a
small shepherd boy who will not even fit into the armour he is provided,
volunteers. When Goliath mocks him, David says, “You come to me with a
sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord.”
With that, he takes a stone, slings it at Goliaths forehead, and knocks the
giant to the ground. In other words, you can face any challenge as long as
you have are sure of what you believe in and stand strong.
6.
David:
Leaders are
not afraid of giants
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