The idea of choosing a person to lead always produces tension in those who are choosing and those who will be affected by the choice. Determining a good leader is no easy task, nor is it one that always ends up with positive results. Sometimes bad leaders are chosen and the result is catastrophic. Sometimes good leaders are chosen, and there are times of peace. Either way, whether a leader proves to be good, bad, or mediocre, we shouldn't be surprised by the outcome. Leaders will always let us down, because leaders are human.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” I Samuel 8:4-9
The people of Israel wanted a leader like the nations around them. A man to follow. A voice to listen to. A King to lead them. Until this time, God had led them through the words of prophets, but the people no longer wanted it this way. They wanted their own leader, just like everyone else.
They got him; and more. As time went on, they would begin to see that these leaders, unlike their God, would give in to sin, selfishness, laziness, and many other things which would draw from their ability to lead the people well. From here forward, there's no doubt that Israel would understand that choosing a leader wouldn't be easy, nor always result in good.
For our friends in Kenya, a recent election reminds us of this tension. At the writing of this letter, Uhuru Kenyatta has been re-elected as president; and already, protests have claimed the lives of Kenyans due to unrest at the election results.
As we pray for our family and friends in Kenya, and for the country and its leaders as a whole, we must remember that nothing is out of the providence of our God, even the leaders that are chosen. Paul tells us in Romans 13, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."
God is not absent in the choice of, tension around, nor results of, choosing a leader. Sometimes we choose poorly, God is there. Sometimes we choose wisely, God is there. Regardless of the outcome, God is present and still in control of all things.
Though leaders may rise and fall, our God stays constant. Of that, we can be sure.
“THERE IS NOT A SQUARE INCH IN THE WHOLE DOMAIN OF OUR HUMAN EXISTENCE OVER WHICH CHRIST, WHO IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL, DOES NOT CRY, MINE!”
Abraham Kuyper
Please join us this month of August as we pray for our friends and family in Kenya, for the children and teachers of our school, for our pastors, and for the people and leadership of the beautiful country of Kenya.
We have WONDERFUL news!!!
Many of you might remember Purity. She was one of the first girls we met at Christlike Academy. Though she was quiet, she was smart and wonderfully sweet to us. As time went on we learned her story, a tragedy of abuse at an early age. Last year, her grandmother left the area and asked Linus and Liz to care for Purity as she expected to never return. Linus and Liz have been caring for Purity since then and recently have completed the adoption process and are proud to officially make Purity part of their family!
I know adoption is very close to our hearts and the hearts of many of our partners. Please join us in praying for Purity and the Kirimi family. If you have anything you'd like to pass on to Linus and Liz, please reply to this email and we will be sure they get it.