Leadership Challenges Part 1

 

    There are always challenges no matter where you are in life.  For Leaders the challenges are held under a spot light to be judged throughout the history. Jesus is the only person that ever lived that never caved under pressure at some point.  Yet, He was torn apart at every angle.  That is how we know that even if you are a good leader, you may be treated like you are not.  

    King Baasha of Israel reigned for 24 years. He did evil in God's eyes, so God cursed his family.  When he died his son Elah succeeded him.  That is when Elah became aware of the curse through the prophet Jehu.

    King Elah only reigned two years in Tirzah because his officials plotted against him.  Elah got drunk and Zimri killed him and took the throne.  To make sure that he would not be opposed he killed Baasha's entire family fulfilling the curse.  

    It seems like a revolving door of murder to become a king and God was angry over the cycle of evil.  Israel was divided between Zimri and Omri to be their king.  Omri's followers were strong.   When Zimri realized that his city had been overrun, he burned it and killed himself in the process.  

    Omri now opposed Tibni who wanted to be the next king, but it did not last long.  His death secured Omri as the only King over Israel.  He reigned 12 years doing evil in God's eyes.  When he died, his son, Ahab, became the king.

    King Ahab reigned in Samaria for 22 years.  He exceeded this forefathers in doing evil.  When he married Jezebel he led the people to forget about God and worship Baal.  His evil choices cost the lives of his sons, Abiram and Segub.  God was really angry at this point.

    This is not a fun part of history, but it does highlight the cycle of evil and how it affects actual lives.  These men represent how bad leadership can be.  It was so focused on them that you never get to know what life was like for the people.  If you are a leader, it is the people that you lead that matter more than your personal life.  I imagine it was highly unstable.  We can take a positive twist in knowing that even though politics in the USA are strained, they are not this bad.

1 Kings 16