Leaders and their Followers..

God chooses some people as leaders and some as their followers. Leader is someone who steers the people to a vision he has. Whereas followers are people who follow their leaders and contribute to him in any manner.  A good leader never turns his back on people and good followers never abandon their leader. In Bible we see, three types of leaders and their followers.

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered round him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 1 Samuel 22:2

David ran for his life when he knew Saul was planning to kill him. But some people who were in distress and debt came around him. They became his followers. They did not come to him because he was something, or he was the owner of many riches. But they came to him to help him. David and these followers had many things in common. They were fighting for a cause. Even though they were in distress. They were in debt to people. They were all discontented with their lives. Yet, they were fighting off the injustice happened in their lives. This leader keeps on correcting his followers. Sometimes followers give advice to this leader. Ultimately they all became successful. David becomes the King. His followers, like him  do some  incredible stuffs.

Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master. Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them. 2 Chronicles 13:6,7

Jeroboam and his followers rebelled against Rehobaom because Rehoboam denied to lighten their yoke of harsh labour. Their cause was true. They stood for the right thing. God was with them. But after all this victory and separation, Jeroboam became insecure. He feared his people would leave him and follow Rehoboam. This insecurity lead him astray. His followers as mentioned were worthless scoundrels. This followers were very opportunistic, they were ready to leave God for their own benefit. They stood with Jeroboam because they were benefitted by the cause. None of his followers stopped him from making golden calf instead they encouraged him to make two. This leader sought the advice of his followers. He had a vision. They were all on the right track when they separated from Judah. God chose Jeroboam to lead Israelites. But he lead Israelites to destruction. He lost his vision and tried to fulfill his own wishes.

They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers. Judges 9:4

Abimelech, son of Gideon desired to become King. He manipulated his people and then HIRED some reckless adventurers to follow him. This leader has no vision. Again they want to fulfill their heart’s desire at the cost of others life. This set of people may not have even heard of God in their life’s. They want adventures in their life. In this modern world, this type of leader may not hire people by promising money but they may promise good health, and wealth. They will influence some and manipulate many.

These three types of leaders and followers still persist. A leader who leads people to victory and stand for God, ultimately leading his debtful and distressed followers to success. (There’s a chapter in bible fully dedicated for David’s mighty men).  A leader who had a vision but now lost in his insecurities and fear. A leader who hires followers and leads them to their ultimate destruction. Hence, The LORD is my only shepherd. Let’s be a good leader or a good follower until we are in the QUIVER OF GOD.