Quite often, many people who receive popular support and show signs of brilliance are overcome by the spirit of rebellion and overconfidence, leading them to assume premature leadership positions and authority. They work hard at overthrowing established leadership.
They forget that they may be standing today because the very people they now target may have contributed to their present status in life. They develop the “I can do it better when I have the chance” spirit.
Such categories of people are found among subordinates in both religious and secular organisations.
Assistant pastors and prayer warriors, after receiving spiritual gifts, sometimes begin to assume that they have fully arrived and are ready to take over leadership.
In secular organisations, the attainment of academic qualifications and promotions may also create the “I can do it better” mentality.
You sometimes hear government officials, after elections, claim that they could have performed better than their bosses because most of their supposedly transformative advice had been rejected. They argue that they could have done better if they had served in those higher capacities. Such notions have led many to form their own political parties or go independent in presidential and parliamentary elections in many nations.
Even in some homes, wives and children sometimes assume that they would be better leaders than the head of the family, resulting in frequent chaotic scenes and unfortunate endings.
Usually, when one digs deeper to understand the cause of such negative zeal, it becomes clear that certain wrong counsellors are behind it. Many rebels mistake applause for calling, support for legitimacy, and popularity for destiny. However, such deceptive popularity often ends in disaster.
God raises leaders, and those who undermine rightful authority may one day regret becoming victims of the chaos they helped create.
Our main reference point for this topic is 2 Samuel 15:13, where David was told:
“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
Yet 2 Samuel 15:6 tells us:
“So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”
By implication, he manipulated them to win their hearts. It was not genuine affection.
Absalom did not begin with war. He began with public relations and manipulation (2 Samuel 15:2–5).
He positioned himself at the city gate and:
criticised the king’s administration, flattered the people, and promised them justice he had no authority to give.
Proverbs 26:28 says:
“A flattering mouth works ruin.”
Romans 16:18 adds that:
“By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the simple.”
In organisations, churches, and nations, rebels often win followers by criticism and promises such as “I can do better than him”, and are supported by instigators.
It must be acknowledged that popular support can create a false sense of divine mandate.
Indeed, Absalom developed the false impression that the nation had chosen him over his father, David and that history was on his side.
Truthfully, as a prince, he qualified as an heir to the throne, but that could only have been possible after the death of his father. Instead, he sought the throne prematurely.
It is important to note that popularity is not the same as legitimacy.
The book of Proverbs 16:25 declares:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
In John 12:13, the same crowd that “Hosanna” to Jesus Christ later cried “Crucify Him.”
Judging one’s legitimacy merely by large crowds or popular support can be deceptive and provides a weak foundation for leadership. At large political rallies, presidential and other political aspirants have, on many occasions, wrongly concluded the outcomes of elections to their regret.
Many prominent men, such as Ahithophel, military leaders, and national elders, joined Absalom’s rebellion, yet he could not succeed.
In 2 Samuel 18:7 records are that:
“The people of Israel (Absalom’s supporters) were defeated there… and the slaughter
was great.” Absalom himself also died. 2 Samuel 18:9 tells us that his hair caught him in a tree.
Let us be guided by the fact that those who initiate or help overthrow rightful authority often become victims of the chaos they helped create.
Many examples could be cited, but one that comes immediately to mind and is close to Absalom’s wrongful ambition is Judas Iscariot in Matthew 26:14–16.
Judas thought he could profit from betraying Jesus Christ, but his betrayal of his Lord and master ended in his death.
Matthew 27:5 reveals that,
“He went away and hanged himself.”
Furthermore, Korah also rebelled against Moses in the wilderness, as recorded in Numbers 16:1–3, 32. He believed that the people supported him against Moses. But God judged the rebellion, and he and his followers died as the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them.
Sincerely speaking, true leadership or promotion comes from God, not from deception, envy, “I can do it better spirit,” or stolen hearts.
Moses, David, and Jesus Christ became leaders, saviours, and Lords not by manipulation but by God’s appointment and anointing (1 Samuel 16:13).
Leadership, therefore, is a calling, a responsibility, and a divine trust. The giver backs it with His sovereign power and grace. It can’t be a popularity contest.
Daniel 2:21 reminds us that:
“He removes kings and raises up kings.”
Conclusion:
Absalom, Korah, and Judas believed that the hearts of Isreal were with them so they rebelled against leadership to their detriment.
Regrettably, many people fail to realise that stolen hearts, the encouragement of instigators, and the perceived love of the masses are never the same as divine appointments. Even where success is chalked, it remains temporary.
Finally, a wrong perception of oneself often raises false hopes and misplaced confidence, and history shows that such illusions lead many people to tragic ends. Stolen hearts may create temporary popularity, but only God’s appointment establishes lasting leadership.
