Opportunities to Learn

God calls all of His leaders, and He equips them for service. But for some reason this next idea hasn't hit me until this morning. God gives His chosen leaders opportunities to learn how to lead. This is something that has been seen through scripture, but I didn't really pick up on it until today in 1 Samuel 16.

Think back to the chapters leading up to this book in the Old Testament. In Genesis the one who comes to mind is Joseph. After being sold into slavery he goes to work for Potiphar. After seeing that Joseph is blessed by God and everything he does prospers, Potiphar puts him in charge of everything he has. After a false accusation Joseph is thrown in prison, but ends up being put in charge of the prison. All of it is preparation to lead Egypt. God gave Joseph opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

Move to Exodus, Moses is the one we see. The first forty years of his life are spent in the palace. After fleeing Egypt for killing an Egyptian he spends the next forty years in the wilderness as a shepherd, learning to survive and care for the flock. And then at the age of eighty, God sends him back to Egypt to confront the Pharaoh and lead the people out into the wilderness on the journey to the Promised Land. God gave Moses opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

Joshua is the next one who comes to mind. He was Moses' aid and general. He was with Moses learning from Him. He lead the army in battle, and as I've shared in previous post (Two Men Called to Lead) He spent time before God. After Moses dies, Joshua takes his place and leads the people on a conquest of the Promised Land. God gave Joshua opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

Samuel, as soon as he was weaned was presented at the house of God and entered the service of the Lord. He learned the duties of priesthood from Eli. He learned to hear and respond to the voice of God in that setting and goes on to lead Israel as the last judge of the nation. God gave Samuel opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

And now we come to the one that finally opened my eyes to this truth. David, the youngest of eight brothers, is God's anointed King to follow Saul whom God has rejected for continuous disobedience. David was a shepherd; he spent days and weeks alone in the fields with the sheep. And God has chosen him to be the next King because he is as God says, "A man after My own heart." But David needs to learn how to rule a country. And so God gives Him the opportunity.

1 Samuel 16.14-23, "Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, 'Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.' So Saul said to his servants, 'Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.' Then one of the young men said, 'Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.' So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, 'Send me your son David who is with the flock.' Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son. Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. Saul sent to Jesse, saying, 'Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.' So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him."

David spends time with Saul, seeing how to be a king. God gave David the opportunities to learn how to lead before he entered leadership.

I look at my own life. I've had opportunities to intern and serve on staff at churches of various sizes. And in each one I've learned things for the future leadership God has called me to. Even now, as the lead pastor of a small church, I'm learning for the future leadership.

God calls all of His leaders, He hand picks them. And then He doesn't sent them into leadership blindly, He prepares them. He gives them opportunities to learn how to lead before they step into His full plan of leadership for them. I'm excited to continue to learn and I'm looking forward to what's next so I can learn more, to one day be the leader God has called me to be.

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you