John Maxwell Profiles in Leadership: Rahab – What a Surprise!

This is the sixteenth lesson in bestselling author and speaker John Maxwell’s Leadership by the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, tell them to sign up to receive John’s free email devotional here.

By John C. Maxwell

Matthew 1:5

Many people express surprise that God would include a harlot in the bloodline of Jesus, but God specializes in surprising us. As a matter of fact, the only thing in life that should not surprise us is that God will surprise us! So we should expect to learn valuable leadership lessons from Rahab the prostitute.

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Good leaders recognize when God is moving. When Rahab heard the stories about the Israelites, she recognized that God was doing something and she prepared herself to become part of it (Josh. 2). Make yourself aware of what God is doing. Submit to him. Be sensitive to him. Let go of your agenda, and when God moves, move along with him.

Good leaders don’t allow the fear of others to overcome their judgment. Several times Rahab could have let fear overwhelm her, but she didn’t. She showed good leadership skills under pressure. As you lead, fight fear with faith and overcome inaction with belief.

Good leaders use advantages God gives them to help others. Rahab used her influence to save her entire family (Josh. 6:23). Ask yourself why you’ve been given the opportunity to lead others. Is it for personal recognition or benefit? Or are you leading to benefit others and bring glory to God? Why you lead is as important as what you do as a leader.

Rahab may not have looked like a leader to her contemporaries, but she continues to provide true leadership for millions through Scripture’s depiction of her faith and obedience. Surprising, but true!

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The above is adapted from The Maxwell Leadership Bible / Third Edition by John C. Maxwell (@JohnCMaxwell). Copyright © 2002, 2007, 2018 by Maxwell Motivation, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com.

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