On the afternoon of March 30, 1981, John Hinckley shot and wounded four men as they walked outside of a Washington hotel. Among the wounded was President Ronald Reagan. In that moment the nation was placed in a chaotic and perilous situation as the government wrestled with the question, “Who is in charge?” In the chaos Secretary of State Alexander Haig stated those famous words to reporters in the briefing room when they asked the question about who was in charge. He said, “Constitutionally gentlemen, you have the president, the vice president and the secretary of state, in that order, and should the president decide he wants to transfer the helm to the vice president, he will do so. As for now, I’m in control here.” Many historians point out that “Haig was wrong to say ‘constitutionally.’ The constitution mentions the secretary of state only in an actual transfer of power and then it places him fourth in line.”
Humanity it seems always wrestles with the question, “Who is in charge.” People do not like leadership vacuums and seek to fill voids whenever they perceive one exists. We are coming up to the mid-term elections where various candidates are saying the nation has a leadership problem. These individuals have stepped forward to fill the leadership void they perceive exists. The problem seems to be that those who want to take charge all want to lead with an agenda that they feel is the right one. This is irrespective of the fact as to whether it is or not. Some appear to be more focused upon the power of leadership than on the principles and policies necessary to lead properly, justly, and righteously.
This leadership problem is not
limited to politics. At a large pastor’s conference where thousands of church
leaders had gathered, there was a large banner prominently hung over the
platform which read, “Relax Everybody, for Once You’re Not in Charge.” Catchy
saying. I perhaps would have altered the sign by adding the following phrase,
“…And You Never Were!”
There is a lot of leadership
“elbowing” as people vie for a leadership role in life. In families, parents
and children posture themselves to oversee things in the home -- not to mention
husbands and wives. In the workplace, employers and employees seem to be vying
for control of the organization. In society, various factions protest the way
they perceive that they are marginalized rather being given control over the
various social issues. From where does of this leadership unrest originate?
Could it possibly be that we too want to announce what Alexander Haig did, “I’m
in control here.”
In the Bible’s book of Job, we see several
individuals who suggest that they were in charge of how life should be understood,
and their guidance should be followed. Job had suffered immeasurable loss, and
various people in his life tried to lead Job as to how he should respond. Job’s
wife’s advice was give up. She says, “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). She tries
to lead her husband to see that death is preferable to the painful life he was
leading. Job’s friends gave their leadership advise from the point of view that
obviously Job had sinned. They wanted him to fess up and repent (Job 22:5, 23).
Job even tries to take control of his life’s situation by declaring that he has
done nothing wrong. He suggests God owes him an explanation for the way He is treating
him because it is just wrong. God who is in complete control, and always was
even when Job thought He wasn’t, responds, “Shall the one who contends with the
Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it” (40:2). God is pointing
out to Job and those who are trying to take charge of Job’s painful life, that God
is in control even when you can’t see, understand, or explain what He is doing.
There is no leadership void when one
really understands that a sovereign God is deeply engaged in His world and with
the people He loves. I may not understand all His leading in my life or world,
but I can trust His leadership. Therefore, my response to God’s leading is
submission not frustration, accusation, or question. Secondly, since God is
sovereignly leading and in control I need to respond with obedience and not
conjecture, second guessing or panic. Therefore, I can relax -- I am not in
charge -- God is.
Job ultimately answered the
question, “Who is in charge?” He concluded, “God is.” Then he replied to the
Lord, “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked,
‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was
talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me… I
had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes” (42:2-5).
Job was trying to figure out a
painful and perplexing life. He did when he arrived at a place where he saw God
was in charge. He could relax and not fret. Charles H. Spurgeon wisely observes,
“When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which
you lay your head.” There is a pillow to relax upon!
