My pastor of many years ago was called to a meeting of disgruntled parishioners. He was young at the time. His church was growing under his apostolic leadership and teaching. This challenged some people within the congregation who wanted to remain in control and not change. They didn’t like being led by a bold and assertive young man thinking his boldness and assertiveness was just his youthful exuberance, not the faith of a young man with an apostolic calling.
When my pastor entered the meeting and heard their demands, he asked, “So, you want me to become weak so you can become strong?” The meeting didn’t last much longer. This disgruntled group realized my pastor would not become what they demanded of him. They left the church moving on taking their demands elsewhere.
One of Gideon’s sons, Abimelech, conspired to become the leader of Israel. He gathered a willing following and planned to kill the other sons of Gideon. “He went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half-brothers, the sons of Gideon. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid” (Judges 9:5). These murders took place so Abimelech would have no competition in his quest for leadership.
Jotham was brave and bold. He went to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted out his rebuke to the people. He confronted them revealing their misunderstanding using trees to illustrate his point.
Regarding an olive tree, “Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?” (vs. 9).
Regarding a fig tree, “Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?” (vs. 11).
Regarding a grapevine, “Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?” (vs. 13).
After his clarifying questions, Jotham pointed out the real issue – it was a great dishonor to both God and to Gideon who was called to lead. Then Jotham asked a question that made his point, “Have you treated him with the honor he deserves for all he accomplished? For he fought for you and risked his life when he rescued you from the Midianites. But today you have revolted against my father and his descendants, killing his seventy sons on one stone. And you have chosen his slave woman’s son, Abimelech, to be your king just because he is your relative” (vs. 16-18).
As it happens with most disgruntled people, a consequence for their sin took place. Abimelech was killed in battle and the people who had joined him in his rebellion returned to their homes. Demands from disgruntled people don’t get far. They just open the door for sin and its consequences.
The people wanted a leader who was not qualified to lead. Abimelech had no honor and no ability to lead with honor. This is what happened to my pastor years ago and it’s what will happen to us if we want to control our leaders, not be led by their unique gifts. Be careful demanding leaders live up to and perform based on our limited understanding of what defines a Godly leader. Disgruntled people led by dishonoring leaders will never lead us to a good place.
There are two errors that followers make: usurping authority from their leader, and blindly following a leader who is in error. Honorable leadership embraces a shared commitment to a God-proclaimed destiny, and honors the leader while insisting that they remain accountable to the destiny.