Today we are wrapping up our look at what qualities make an effective leader. We’ve talked about being submissive and standing firm in truth, no matter the consequences. The last character trait I want to discuss is being gracious. A great leader knows how to be gracious, even when he/she is proven to be correct. 

As we’ve seen in the past few weeks, there were times when Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were all put in situations where they had a choice to follow what God said or do what their superiors were asking. Each time these boys chose to be bold and resisted the urge to simply comply. In each instance all of these men chose to do what God said. As a result they were thrown in jail, in a fiery furnace, and a den full of hungry lions. Each time we see God’s protection and promotion given to them at the end of each trial. Joseph becomes second in command in Egypt. Daniel becomes the king’s important advisor. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are also promoted by King Nebuchadnezzar. 

Great leaders know how to be gracious, even when circumstances prove they were right all along. Let’s take a look at how each of these men responded after God intervened on their behalf and proved he was more powerful than the king himself.

Joseph

Joseph had spent years in prison for a crime he never committed. He then was taken out of prison to speak to the Pharaoh and was asked to interpret a dream. Imagine how nervous Joseph must have felt. He needed to completely rely on God to give him the interpretation. He gracefully gave Pharaoh the interpretation. Joseph didn’t know if he would go straight back to prison after doing what was asked of him. I suspect he never in a million years thought he would be getting the promotion he received. Who knows, maybe God told him this event was going to fulfill the dreams he had all those years ago. 

“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 

Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” 

(Pharaoh then told Joseph the dream, and he interpreted it with the help of God.)

Pharaoh Needs a Discerning Man

“Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.” 

And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:15-16, 33-36, 38-41 (ESV)

Joseph is Honored

Joseph was honored as both discerning and wise because he showed grace to those who accused him unjustly. He chose to forgive and shine where he was, even if it was prison. He obviously continued to develop his relationship with God while he was in prison. God developed his gift of discernment. God gave him Heavenly wisdom to know how to lead the other prisoners, and later the entire kingdom.  

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

If you recall, before Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace they said,  “…King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬ (emphasis added)

These guys said all they needed to say before they were thrown into the furnace. After they were thrown in, this is what happened:

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” 

What Happened After the Fire

“Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” Daniel‬ ‭3:24-30‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Did you notice what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said after they were taken out of the fire? Nothing. Not one single word. They said all they needed to before going into the fire. King Nebuchadnezzar knew who saved them in the fire because he was told the God they served was able to rescue them. They extended grace to the king and showed they were in fact great leaders. 

Daniel

Now let’s take a look at how Daniel responded the morning after he was thrown into the lion’s den.  

“Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 

Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 

Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”

Daniel’s Enemies Are Judged

“And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. 

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” 

So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” Daniel‬ ‭6:19-28‬ (‭ESV)

Daniel Was Innocent

Daniel proclaimed he was innocent in the sight of Yahweh and the king. Therefore, Yahweh sent angels to close the mouths of the lions. Daniel proclaimed the truth after he was saved. In fact, Daniel never said a word before he was sentenced to the lion’s den. Daniel clearly lived a life where everyone around him knew he served Yahweh only. 

Why else would his enemies decide to have the king pass the law to only pray to him and no other gods? They knew the only way to get rid of Daniel was to kill him using his faith against him. Little did they know, Yahweh really was able to save Daniel. It would be them who died by the mouths of the lions. 

Still Daniel was gracious to the king, simply stating he was blameless in the eyes of both Yahweh and the king. Thus Yahweh saved him. Again we see the king make a proclamation of who Yahweh is and that people needed to respect him as a powerful God. Like his friends, Daniel was promoted and led graciously.  

What Does It Take  

What does it take to be an effective leader? It takes someone who is willing to submit to the authority placed in their lives. Effective leaders stand firm in the truth of what the Bible says, even if it means not submitting to authority. Possibly most importantly, effective leaders are gracious to their superiors when God shows up and does a miracle in their life. Effective leaders allow God to do the work of convicting others. They simply live a life filled with the Holy Spirit and do what is right no matter the consequences. Now go out there and be submissive, yet stand in truth when needed, and most of all, be gracious to those around you who need grace. Go be an effective leader wherever God has placed you.