Samuel 8:6-7 However, Samuel was offended when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” so he prayed to the LORD. 7A”Listen to all that the people are saying to you; they have rejected me as their king, not you,” the LORD said to him.

Eli was not a suitable role model for Samuel when it came to parenting. Samuel’s own sons were similar to Eli’s; the people wanted a king so they wouldn’t have to put up with Samuel’s evil sons ruling them. It’s human nature for men to want a visible human leader; we’re constantly searching for Superman. However, when a man has so much power and influence, he almost always turns corrupt. There is too much temptation to use the circumstance for one’s own enjoyment. Then there is the immense disappointment of everyone who has praised him and declared him deserving.

Leaders who are worshipped are able to fail by God’s grace, which draws our attention back to God. They insisted on having a king despite Samuel’s warning that this would occur. Samuel was upset because he sensed that something in his soul was telling him that this was extremely wrong. God clarified for him, saying, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”

Ministries and churches, pay attention to God’s heart. The path of man is one exalted man with the last word and power. It is a denial of God. It is not the man with the greatest potential to be a CEO that God has always worked through, but rather persons whose hearts are seeking Him. Take a look at the followers that Jesus selected. With Jesus as their true leader, they were a group of equals. Today’s church ought to be the same. Judas was the best qualified of them to be a CEO.

Think about it: Man gets disappointed when he is exalted. Christ’s exaltation keeps us on course.