The Bad Leader

We have all experienced them—leaders, who exhibit selfishness in the midst of a crisis. One of the reasons why I believe the Bible is the greatest book on leadership is the plethora of examples of good and bad leaders.  So let’s look at a man who shows us what not to do.  ​

Meditation
Isaiah 22:15-19--The Lord God of Hosts said: “Go to Shebna, that steward who is in charge of the palace, and say to him: What are you doing here? Who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here, carving your tomb on the height and cutting a crypt for yourself out of rock?  Look, you strong man! The Lord is about to shake you violently. He will take hold of you, wind you up into a ball, and sling you into a wide land. There you will die, and there your glorious chariots will be—a disgrace to the house of your lord.  I will remove you from your office; you will be ousted from your position.
 
Shebna was a high official in Judah’s palace. We know very little about him except that he greatly angered God. At this time in history, Assyria was the rising power.  They destroyed Israel, and they were poised to conquer Judah. Shebna’s goal ought to have been to benefit his countrymen. Instead, he focused on carving an expensive burial spot for himself—a plot to make his name endure.  When his nation required defending, he gathered chariots to protect himself.  His pride far exceeded any desire to help his countrymen.
            
Bad leaders don’t care about others—except when it benefits them. Selfish pride is rarely an unusual aberration. Unless radically checked it becomes a lingering disease.  It cuts the throat of decency and scoffs at benefiting others. It seeks personal glory at the expense of community gain. The fact that the Lord noticed and was about to shake Shebna violently and expel him to the land of his enemies shows how heinous his actions were.  
            
By the Lord’s hand, Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, took Shebna’s place. God stripped the robes off a scoundrel to cover in glory a man who would serve as a father to the people of Jerusalem and the house of Judah (vs. 21). He measured the heart of this servant and found it to His liking. 
            
Do not wonder if God sees the actions of those in authority.  He certainly does.  Pride in the twenty-first century is no different from the pride of the seventh century B.C.  Leaders who build their personal estates on the backs of hurting people will not escape judgment. Those who promulgate lies to perpetuate control and power will meet disgrace.  Their glorious chariots will not last or matter.  The bad leader always fails.  And that is exactly why God’s people should pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  Pray for opened eyes, for confession of wrongdoing, for humility to replace hubris, and for the spirit of Eliakim to replace the spirit of Shebna.  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
   
Inspiration
Our officers availed themselves of every privilege their rank could give them; and were hated and execrated.—Private Orr quoted  by Kerry A. Trask in Black Hawk

By the objective standards of leadership, those who aim to raise their own status simply so they can enjoy the perks themselves without fulfilling their responsibilities as leaders are, plain and simple, weak leaders.—Simon Sinek in Leaders Eat Last
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)