Similar to our education system, every leader will be asked to pass certain “tests” before there is a promotion to the next level. We have all been in situations where we were given a little to manage and as we proved we could handle the tasks, pressure, budget, timeline, manage the team, etc. we were given more responsibility. For the Christian leader, God provides tests as measures of progress in our character, our trust in Him and our willingness to serve out of love for Him and people. Read Genesis 22:1-18.

God called Abraham to climb Mount Moriah and sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. The very same miracle son he and Sarah had waited their whole lives for. God’s test to see if Abraham was qualified to become the father of the Hebrew people was to make Abraham choose between Him and his beloved son. Only after Abraham passed the test in his heart (and in his attitude) did God provide a replacement sacrifice and spare Isaac. Just a side note – Abraham’s trial foreshadowed what God intended to do with His one and only Son thousands of years later (the replacement sacrifice for each of us).

Abraham is still held in high esteem by Jews and Gentiles alike. His name seems synonymous with respect and leadership. At least one of the reasons Abraham still enjoys this position of respect is because Abraham followed through on his commitments. Genesis 12-22

Throughout history, when delegating leadership responsibility, God has looked for individuals with specific character traits rather than certain skills or physical qualifications. Read Genesis 6:5-7:1.

Humankind had grown so evil that God pledged to destroy it and all living things on earth (6:7). But the Lord’s pronouncement of judgment did not come without hope; God chose Noah, a righteous man, a man whose everyday actions indicated that he lived out his belief in God, to take the lead to save a remnant.

Adam was earth’s first leader. He was appointed steward over the resources and relationships God had created. When Adam ate the forbidden fruit he became the first leader to fail. So where did Adam go wrong and how can you avoid the same mistakes? Read Genesis 3:6-19.

Leadership requires the willingness to take responsibility for personal and corporate actions. By remaining passive when he should have taken action, Adam allowed both Eve and himself to fall morally. By denying responsibility when God confronted him, Adam damaged all his relationships, spoiled the beautiful garden he lived in, and ultimately devastated all his children and even all mankind.

An effective leader works consistently to become a better communicator. The constant restatement of goals is critical to effective communication. Read Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-6.

Adam was the first spiritual leader. In 2:16-17, before Eve was on the scene, God told Adam, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” As God’s leader, one of Adam’s assignments was to insure Eve knew the boundaries God had established before she was with him.