Good and Bad Leadership

   Saul had ordered the people under an oath not to eat until evening: “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies.” (1 Samuel 14:24) The soldiers were afraid to break the rule, so they did not eat. Yet by not eating, they were weak when they needed strength to fight.

   Jonathan had been away from the army and had not heard the oath, so when he rejoined the army and the troops went through a wooded area, Jonathan saw a honeycomb. He ate some of the honey, “...and his eyes were enlightened.” (1 Samuel 14:27) Another Israelite told him about the oath.

   Jonathan said, “My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”  (1 Samuel 14:29-30) Jonathan was gutsy. He wasn’t afraid to call it like he saw it.

   Jonathan and his armor bearer had just seen God bless them in a very dangerous situation. No doubt he was still excited. Then Saul came along and said nothing about his son’s gallantry. He condemned him for breaking a rule that he didn’t know about and that Saul should not have imposed to begin with. Saul was a veteran soldier himself. He should have known that soldiers need to eat and have energy to fight.

   Saul said, “…thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.” (1 Samuel 14:44) His son’s valor obviously meant zero. Then others came to Jonathan’s defense: “Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.” (1 Samuel 14:45)

   When the Philistines had taken over, Saul wasn’t willing to fight them. He “…tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree…” (1 Samuel 14:2) Yet Jonathan was willing to trust God and take them on, even with only his armor bearer. He said, “…it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6) The armor bearer was in.

   Here are two leaders: one bad and one good. Saul cared about himself. Jonathan cared about pleasing God. Saul was content to let wicked people prey on citizens. Jonathan wanted to confront them. Saul led by imposing rules. Jonathan led by example. Saul wanted people to fear him and obey rules for fear of punishment. Jonathan wanted people to be motivated and join in the fight against wicked people.

   If you are a leader, are you like Saul or Jonathan? Do you lead by imposing rules or by example? If you work a desk, do you go on the road at times to meet your officers and see what they deal with? When they do well, especially in dangerous situations, do you commend them or look for petty rule violations? Do you try to improve morale and proactivity, or instill fear of punishment so they do the minimum for their own financial survival while criminals are free to make life miserable for citizens as the Philistines did?