The 5 virtues required of a title leader
Judges (10) Five virtues necessary for leaders (Judges 4:1-10)
1. The wise use of gifts
After Ehud's death, Israel fell again (v. 1). This fact speaks to both the persistence of sin and the importance of leadership. In the end, God sold the sinful Israel into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor (verse 2). After taking the northern part of Israel, Jabin severely abused the children of Israel. When Israel could not bear the abuse and asked God, God sent a female judge, Deborah (verses 4-5).
At that time, the judges were in charge of the people's judgment in peacetime and enforced God's justice. In particular, the text refers to Deborah, who became a judge, as a prophetess, but the Bible also refers to Moses' sisters Miriam (Ex 15:20) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) as female prophets. Like Miriam and Huldah, Deborah must have used the gift of prophecy God had given her to judge the people wisely. To be such a leader, one must have the attitude to use one's own gifts wisely without envying the gifts of others.
2. Love that transcends regional colors
One day, Deborah called Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and delivered the command of God. “Barak! Take the children of Naphtali and the children of Zebulun, ten thousand men, and go to Mount Tabor” (verse 6). Naphtali Kedesh was quite far north of the hill country of Ephraim, where Deborah dwelt. The writing of Barak who lived there shows Deborah's leadership with love and concern that transcends tribes and regions. God is a God who sees the heart. Therefore, without prejudice, you can become a good leader that God is pleased with.
In particular, let go of the four typical prejudices that people have. First, let go of your gender bias. Men and women look different, but the core is the same. Second, let go of your prejudice against fat. Self-righteousness judging by local color inevitably leads to errors and unhappiness. Third, let go of your prejudices about the past. There are many miracles that a person can change and become a new person. Fourth, let go of the prejudice against the rich and the poor. Do not unconditionally take sides or reject one side over the issue of rich and poor, but only stand on the side of the righteous. In order to become such a good leader, we must cast aside all external prejudices and cultivate a central view.
3. Wise strategy and tactics
Why did Deborah summon Barak, who lived in Kedesh, Naphtali? Naphtali Kedesh was one of the most important cities in the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:37), and it was located about 5 km northeast of Hazor, the city of Jabin. There, Barak, who witnessed Jabin's tyranny vividly, thought that he could be a leader with a strong desire for the restoration of Israel more than anyone else, so Deborah would have chosen him as the leader of the army among many influential men.
Why did Deborah make Barak go to war with 10,000 men of Naphtali and Zebulun? Since they were the tribe that suffered the most from Jabin king of Hazor, they would have considered worthy to be the vanguard against the enemy. Also, why did Deborah tell Barak to lead the army to Mount Tabor? Because it was a mountain that Jabin's iron chariot could not reach. How good are your strategies and tactics? To become such a good leader, you must keep close to the Word and constantly develop wise strategies and tactics through prayer and meditation.
4. Faith-Encouraging Attitude
Deborah continues to preach the word of God to Barak. Look at verse 7 of the text. “I will bring Sisera, captain of Jabin’s army, and his chariots, and his company, to the river Kishon to you, and I will deliver him into your hand.”
The Kishon River originates in the vicinity of Mount Tabor, flows through the valley of Jezreel, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Around the river lies the Plain of Jezreel, which makes it easy for iron chariots to move, so it is easy to predict that Sisera will gather his forces there. Sensing the situation, Deborah encouraged Barak to believe and hope by telling Barak that God would lead Sisera's army to the river Kishon to defeat him. One of the most important things a leader should do is to encourage faith and deliver hope through the Word.
5. Attitude to share suffering
Deborah's Barak said: “If you go with me I will go, but if you do not go with me I will not go” (verse 8). Why did Barak want Deborah to go to war with him? It must be because he felt that he was not enough to carry out the vocation he had received on his own. Hearing Barak's request, Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. With Deborah's accompaniment, Barak doubled his courage and, using his influence in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, summoned ten thousand men of Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh and went to war (verse 10). A true leader is a leader who knows how to be together in such hardships.
Love is to be with the loved one where they are. Promising only a rosy tomorrow from afar is not true love. Therefore, the leader must first have the attitude to be with the sheep wherever they go before making them live well. It is the most basic duty of a shepherd to be with the sheep even in the midst of hardship.