When we think of a leader we usually drift off to the idea of a good one. A leader that is fair, honest, good, kind, and trustworthy. That kind of leader, thoroughly embracing those principles, will usher people into a tomorrow based on those very principles. And as a result, the people that choose to follow that leader will adopt the same cadence and characteristics as their leader. They see quality displayed in the one they follow, and they simply need to duplicate what they see. The good leader is moving people forward towards a common goal while journeying there using Godly principles.
But I think many times we falsely assume that all leaders are moving in the right direction. We encounter a leader that is charismatic, well-spoken, full of energy, and has a smile as wide as a Montana sunset and we generally assume they are a good leader. I mean if they look like a good leader, talk like a good leader and act like a good leader then they must be a good leader leading in the right direction, correct? Insert historical notes about Adolf Hitler here. He was a gifted orator, a passionate statesman, and the people he led zealously followed his vision and direction. But we can easily conclude that despite all of these telling characteristics, he was clearly leading in the wrong direction.
The idea of a bad leader is two-fold though. A leader can’t lead in the wrong direction if everyone refuses to follow. A bad leader must find constituents, without them they are just a bad person not a bad leader. And as you encounter this dynamic conundrum, you have to ask yourself, who is really at fault here. Is it the bad leader doing the leading or is it bad people that are choosing to follow the bad leader? A timeless question.
Today we see a change of direction so abrupt it would definitely leave some sweet skid marks if you attempted it in a Corvette. Good king Hezekiah, in the extra 15 years of life granted him by God, has a son. His son is named Mannasseh. And in this instance, the apple does indeed fall very, very far from the tree. Manasseh becomes one of the most evil kings recorded in scripture. We see his father Hezekiah usher in great reform and revival, knocking down false altars, destroying idols, and driving out the many false gods from Jerusalem. And Manasseh brings all the idolatry right back. And he does it with vigor, authority and dominance. Manasseh leads in the opposite direction that his father had led. He leads in the way that is opposite of God. He leads the people in the wrong direction.
There is a slim, yet at the same time, massive difference between bad and evil. We’ve seen some bad kings thus far in our historical accounting of Israel, but Manasseh moves the needle from bad up to evil. In fact, he buries the needle in the red of evil. Let’s look at the facts that pegged Manasseh as an evil king in the eyes of the Lord.
“For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.” 2 Kings 21:3-7
Manasseh had a long list of evil to accomplish and he checked every box. Rebuild all of the false temples that his father had destroyed, check. Worship every false god he could find, check. Build false altars to false gods right in the very temple of Almighty God, check. Sacrifice his own infant son by fire to the false god Molech, check. Use the satanic practice of fortune-telling, check. Utilize the demonic practice of mediums and necromancers to try to communicate with the dead, check. This guy was on a wild tear to do whatever evil he could possibly locate. And as he did, the eyes of his kingdom were on him.
You see, here lies the caveat of leading...everyone is a leader. Did you know that you are a leader today? Oh, you better believe it. Say that you own your own business and you employee one person. You might only think you’re leading one person today, but you are leading many more than that. The world around you is watching your every move to see how you lead just that one life. And the world is taking notes. Say you babysit your 4 year old grandson every day. You are a leader. You are leading that young life and every other life it comes into contact with in a direction. You are leading much more than just one young life.
As you lead today, how are you leading? Are you exhibiting an example that is based on the truth of God’s Word? Are you living a life that is based on truth, honesty, goodness, love, kindness and honor? Do you put others high above yourself? Do you do what is right no matter what it cost you? Do you do what is right when you think no one is watching? Or are you living a life that is based on pride, self, and whatever feels good to satisfy yourself? You see, every single one of us today are leaders. The question is, where will you lead those that are watching your every single move?
Manasseh led the people in the direction of his great evil. His evil leadership led the southern tribes of Judah into a direction of bondage and slavery to their neighboring enemies. His evil example led, displayed, and encouraged the behavior that the people adopted. And adopt they did. It is so easy to coax a sinful heart into sin.
But Manasseh is not a sole example. In fact, almost every single bad king has a bad suffix added to their name in God’s Word. A description that sums up their leadership in just a few words. A description that tells us where they led those that chose to follow them. (italics mine)
Pekahiah – “He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin” 2 Kings 24b
Pekah – ““he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.” 2 Kings 15:28b
Manasseh – “and has made Judah also to sin with his idols” 2 Kings 21:11b
Menahem – “he did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin.” 2 Kings 15:18
Zechariah – “he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.” 2 Kings 9b
Jeroboam II – ““he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.” 2 Kings 14:24b
Jehoahaz – “and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.” 2 Kings 13:2b
Jehu – “he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.” 2 Kings 10:31b
Folks, this list could be extended ad nauseum, the point being made clear. Evil leaders lead those that follow them in the direction of evil. And those gullible enough to be led in evil ways will themselves be consumed by that evil. As you go about living your life today, what example do you give? When given the choice to tell the truth or slip in a white lie, what do you choose? Whatever your choice, someone is watching. When given the choice today to forgive someone for wronging you, do you take it or do you instead choose to retaliate and lash out in anger? People are watching you.
Today, if you are a follower of Jesus and call Christ your Savior, you have been given a monumental task. To lead in a way that points people to Him. To live a life that moves people in the direction of Christ. The way you speak, the way you treat others, the way you conduct yourself when you think no one is watching; these are the moments when you truly lead people to Christ.
Today, make your leadership direction known to all. Make it crystal clear to this world…if you’re following me, I’ll show you the way to Jesus Christ.
Abundant Blessings.
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