On Sunday we looked at the topic of Kingdom Fathers from the example of David shepherding the people of Israel.  Psalm 78:70-72 recounts David’s shepherding and leading ability:

“He [God] chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.  And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”

As fathers (and men!) the heavenly Father has given us the responsibility of shepherding our families with integrity of heart and leading them with skillful hands.  With that in mind, let me give you one more story that helps us develop a heart of integrity and skillful hands.

This story I was reading this morning in my personal worship time and is found in Joshua 9.  God has commanded Joshua and the people of Israel to take the Promised Land.  To accomplish that goal God has also commanded them to destroy every inhabitant in the land.  Following God’s guidance they see a miraculous victory at Jericho.  They almost slipped up due to disobedience of a man named Achan at Ai, but they repented and ultimately got the victory.  News of God and the people of Israel is spreading like wildfire through the land.  To protect their hides, the people of Gibeon attempt to deceive Joshua and the leaders of Israel into thinking that they are foreigners who have traveled a great distance because they have heard of the conquests of the people of Israel and they wanted to meet them for themselves.  In reality they were the next people in line to be destroyed.

However, even though they had misgivings, Joshua and the leaders bought the ruse of the Gibeonites.  The biggest mistake they made (and how often do I make the same one?) is found in Joshua 9:14:

“The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.”

As a result they fell for the Gibeonite trick.  Even worse, when the leaders of Israel would not allow the Israelites to attack the Gibeonites because of the oath they had made, Joshua 9:18 reports:

“… the whole assembly grumbled against the leaders.”

What a lesson in godly leadership:  if you want to keep people from grumbling and confident in your leadership abilities, then you better be constantly before the Lord seeking His face and guidance.  This truth applies to leading your employees, your classroom, your sports team, your office…you name it applies.  Most importantly for the kingdom father, it applies to shepherding and leading your family.