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Leaders Who Lead

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 1, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 9.

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Leaders Who Lead

By E. R. PALMER

“For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, for that the people offered themselves willingly, bless ye Jehovah.” Judges 5:2, A. R. V.
Because of their sins God had permitted Israel to go into bondage under Jabin the king of Canaan, who had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had “mightily oppressed” the children of Israel.
There came a time when their deliverance was due, and God raised up Barak and Deborah as leaders, and from all the coasts of Israel the people answered the call and fought for deliverance, except the inhabitants of Meroz, upon whom a bitter curse was pronounced “because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.”
Two factors are necessary for the success of every movement: the leaders must lead, and the people must offer themselves willingly. How terse the words in the text, “for that the leaders took the lead.” It seems evident that for a long time the leaders had not taken the lead, and so Israel had been in bondage; but now the leaders were awake. They took up their appointed work and led Israel to victory and freedom from their oppression.
It is hardly necessary to make a present application of these powerful words. For many years God’s people have been oppressed by their enemies,and the time of deliverance is at hand. Some victories have been won, but from now on to the end of time the struggle will be a mighty one, and every moment the leaders should be in their places to lead Israel, and all the people should respond willingly.
At the annual meeting of the California Conference, held a few days ago, the elder of a church made remarks so terse and emphatic upon this point, I think they should be a blessing to leaders everywhere, and particularly to church officers. These were his remarks in brief:—
“In our church we have decided not to wait for the ministers to come and stir us up to sell ‘Ministry of Healing’ as they had to do when we were selling ‘Christ’s Object Lessons.’ We want our ministers out with the tents preaching the gospel, and we propose to push this campaign ourselves; so we have already organized the church for work. Each member will visit his most intimate friends, and the tradesmen with whom he does business, and will do everything in his power to work up a good sale, then we will all unite in sending our order in through the church librarian, and have our books come by freight, and in that way save postage.” “And,” the brother further proposed, “if every church in the California Conference would do the same, we might soon have the work with the ‘Ministry of Healing’ closed up without the great expense of sending ministers all through the conference to work up an interest.”
These remarks seem so clear and practical to me that I feel like passing them to the officers of every church as a sentiment worthy of their consideration and acceptance. This scripture shows clearly that the blessing of having leaders who lead is a cause for thanksgiving to Jehovah.
E. R. PALMER, Sec. Gen. Conf. Relief Bureau.