Gideon had seventy-one sons; we know about two of them from Judges 8–11. Abimelech is the ignoble son who murdered sixty-nine of his half brothers in an attempt to eliminate the competition. The youngest son of Gideon, Jotham, was the only half-brother to escape. In this post I want to look back on Abimelech and expand on something I said in passing on Sunday morning. In Judges 9:6 we read,

And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

Remember, this coronation came on the heels of Abimelech’s murderous rampage against sixty-nine of his half brothers. When he should have been tried as a butcher the people crowned him king. When we read something like this we say, “You’ve got to be kidding! What were they thinking? Can’t they see this guy is not fit to lead a dog team in the Iditarod let along the nation of Israel?” But it really shouldn’t surprise us because we see this taking place everyday.

Don’t be surprised when unscrupulous, villainous, dishonorable people with little or no character rise to the top. Even those who have terrible character will rise and become those who rule because people don’t get it. Just because somebody is a success doesn’t mean they will be a good leader. Too often the leaders in our clubs, communities, countries and even churches are chosen because they have all the “right stuff.” We look at the campaigns they’ve lead or the crowds they’ve drawn or the money they’ve brought in. Have we stopped to think of the character they possess? The real test of whether someone should lead is not simply the external achievements, but the internal character. Just like “might never makes right” so popularity shouldn’t blind us into thinking a person will make a good leader. What is important is what these people do behind closed doors when they think nobody is watching them.

I want us all to remember this whenever we are choosing someone to lead us. Peal back the layers of their so-called successes and put their real self under our microscopes. We all need to ask one crucial question: “Does this person have the character, integrity to be a leader?” I just thought I’d throw that out for what its worth.

Grace & Peace,

Scott