LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH: GOD'S PREROGATIVE - NUMBERS 2:1-34

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Created: Thursday, 27 April 2023 13:39

"And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah...On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur" - Numbers 2:3,10.

Human organizations always ensure that the most qualified persons are employed to manage their affairs. Nevertheless, too

often, we see people today engaging in endless manipulations to get themselves located in some particular places and positions. They manipulate people, systems, circumstances, etc. They even attempt to manipulate God by engaging in unusual forms of fasting! 

Why? Probably because those positions or places promise some pecuniary interests or degrees of pleasure they believe only they deserve and not another! Most times, such people are driven by greed - their only concern being the privileges or benefits that such places or positions promise, not the responsibilities and self-denials required from occupants of such positions!

Sadly, this phenomenon now plays out more in the church than in the world and it has for a long time been at the root of schisms in the Church! 

In Numbers 2, God Himself determines the location and the leader of each tribe. The responsibilities of each leader are equally specified! Interestingly, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun are situated first in the east ahead of Reuben who is situated in the south!

Therefore, in the kingdom of God, locations and allocations are determined not according to natural endowments or how well individuals can scheme and out-manipulate the other but according to God's predetermined counsel. Consequently, there is no room for competition for leadership positions amongst eligible individuals! Where this is the order of the day, it begs the question of the presence of God!