Leadership

 "That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord !
Judges 5:2 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jdg.5.2.ESV

I suspect there's a hint of irony in this verse. Yes, Barak led the children of Israel willingly against their enemies, but only with Deborah's encouragement. It wasn't straightforward and easy for God's people to win the victory.

God wants His people to know their roles, and to gladly and willingly fulfil them. Barak was a leader of God's people, but he needed encouragement from his fellow leader Deborah. Because he was reticent, Deborah told him that a woman would get glory for the eventual victory (Jael, who killed the enemy leader Sisera).

So if our gift is leadership, we are to do so confidently and willingly. But we're not all leaders, much as we might like to be. If we were all leaders, we'd end up following each other round in circles!

A leader can only take people so far. If people aren't willing to be led, then the leader isn't going to be able to progress very much with them. I have discovered this with classes of children as a trainee teacher. Praise God for willing followers, just as much as confident leaders!

'Lord our God, thank You for leading us confidently, and for godly leaders You set over us. May we willingly follow, that You may be glorified, amen'

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