Bonus post – Jesus’ temptations

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It is a fact that some are going to rule, and some are going to follow. We see this in many ways: children on the playground, politics, civic organizations, and even in the church. We often hear it said, “He is a born leader.” Or, “She is a follower, not a leader.”

Years ago, I heard a story about a young man applying for college. Many young men sent applications, and the college president read them with great interest. Many of the applications included examples of leadership and accomplishments. One young man wrote that he was very ordinary but that he would work hard and do his best. His application also said that he was more of a follower and not one to take on the leadership. When the president read his application, he immediately accepted him. In his letter to the young man he said, “We are happy to accept you into our school. We need followers. We have more than enough leaders.”

The fact is, someone is going to lead. The question is always, “Do we have the right person for the job?” Scripture provides us with an example of just such a circumstance in Judges 9.

Judge Gideon had been approached by the people and asked if he would rule over Israel as their king. Gideon said that he would not, and neither would his son nor his son’s son. He said that God would be their ruler.

Gideon had many wives, and they had given him seventy sons. After Gideon died, one of his sons, Abimelech, the son of one of Gideon’s concubines, convinced the people of Shechem that he would be the perfect one to rule over them. His mother’s relatives agreed that he should rule. He began his leadership role by killing all seventy of his brothers except the youngest.  The men of Shechem made Abimelech king in spite of what he did.

When Jotham, the youngest son, discovered what had happened, he went to the top of Mount Gerizim and proclaimed the parable of the bramble. He said that the trees decided they wanted a king over them. They approached first the olive tree. He was unwilling to serve as king because he didn’t want to leave the place where he grew and produced his fruit. Next, they went to see the fig tree. They asked him to come and rule over them. But the fig tree didn’t want to leave his sweetness and his good fruit and be promoted over the trees. Then they went to the vine. He didn’t want to leave the wine made from his grapes to be put over the trees. Finally, they approached the bramble. The bramble was more than happy to go and reign over the trees.

Let’s look first at the situation within the parable and examine some interesting facts about these candidates for leadership.

THE OLIVE TREE: This tree has become a symbol of many good things—peace, wisdom, fertility, prosperity, luck, victory, stability, and tranquility. Its wood is resistant to decay. It grows twenty-five to thirty feet tall (or taller), and it produces fruit and is a source of oil. It can regenerate itself, and it does not need to be watered. This tree sounds like a good candidate.

THE FIG TREE: This tree is productive, providing moist fodder for livestock. It enriches the soil, improves the growth of crops, and is an excellent source of healthy minerals. It is said to have the sweetest of all fruits. It provided the first clothing for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7). This tree seems to also fit the qualifications of a good leader.

THE VINE: The vine will grow most anywhere. There are many types of this plant. It is tough and hardy, but it must be trained to grow on an arbor since it will spread and climb. This candidate doesn’t sound as strong as the other two.

THE BRAMBLE: The bramble is often a shelter for grass snakes. It has thorns, thrives in acid-type soil, needs lots of sun, carries pests and diseases; and it even reaches out with the thorns and connects itself to other trees and bushes. This is definitely the weakest of the selections.

This parable was to let the men of Shechem know they had made a poor choice. They chose a man that had destroyed his family to get what he wanted. He wanted power, and he didn’t care what he had to do to get it.

The love of ruling involves the insistence of having one’s own way. It involves pride in one’s own opinion and conceit in one’s own abilities. You notice I said “the love of ruling.” When the love of being in charge and feeling superior over others takes hold, nothing good can come from it.

A good ruler needs to have humility, love the truth, and be obedient to God the Father. This is true because having each of these attributes will compel one to rule with the right heart.

Gideon had the right idea about ruling. The only ruler is God. The heavenly ruler should be the one to direct the steps of any that holds a leadership position on earth.

There are several lessons we can learn from this parable. First, we should understand that someone is going to rule; therefore, we should choose our leaders wisely. Second, we should choose a ruler that rules with humility, loving the truth, and being obedient to God. Third, if we want to be a leader, we should prepare for it. Preparation involves study, planning, and a lot of hard work. It is about sharing responsibility not just dictating. Leading is a gift.

If we happen to find ourselves in a leadership position, may we be mindful of the parable of the bramble.

Sandra Oliver