Judges 2 has to be one of the saddest chapters in the Bible. Statements like verse 10 "And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work he had done for Israel" and verse 11-12 "And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around themn, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger" alert us to the fact that something has gone deeply wrong among the people of God.
As you scan this chapter for reasons why you have to observe the influence of leadership. In verse 7 it states "And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel." It seems as long as their was strong leadership, who had known the Lord and followed His ways, the people followed suit. But when good leadership was gone, the people drifted.
This seems to be a likely cause for the earlier quoted statement about a generation rising up who did not know the Lord nor his works. I'd venture to guess that Joshua and the elders kept the Lord and His works before the people during their days, but subsequent leaders failed miserably, resulting in a lost generation. (Let this be a lesson for us to see how quickly faith can be lost.)
We see the same pattern later in the chapter. It seems when the Lord raised up judges the people fared well. But, according to verse 19, when those judges died, the people "turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them."
So it seems leadership has a very important function in keeping the people of God walking in God's ways. They are to keep the Lord and His works before the people and urge them to follow the Lord all the days of their lives.
But it must be noted that human leadership, important as it is, has its limits. One has to admit that each time leadership departed from the scene, the people defected. This external type of influence only works as long as the external influence remains. Once it is gone, other influences will have their day.
Parents know this is true. When you parent your children seeking to control them externally, you may find only limited success. While you are present your children listen and walk "in the way". But once they are taken from your direct influence, they will be subject to other influences. Actually they will be subject to the influence of their own hearts.
That's why leaders (and parents) must not think their influence is the most important. Truly, leaders must exercise a godly influence, but they must also point their followers to the internal influence of the Holy Spirit. If a people (or children) are merely walking in a certain path only because of some external pressure....that will not make long term effect. Long term effect only comes with internal change. When the Spirit comes to reign in human hearts, when the Spirit comes to be the internal influence, ....that is the recipe for long-term change.
So leaders, and all of us lead someone.....take note. Yes, it is important that you lead well. Lift up continually the Lord Jesus Christ and His works. In your day in the sun, ask the Lord to help you have a staying influence on all around you. But don't end there. Always be pointing people beyond yourself. Point God's people to the reign of Christ through His Spirit. Seek the only influence that has staying power - the influence of God's Holy Spirit!
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