The Hebrew prophets rarely minced words. When they addressed the failures of leadership, they spoke with a cutting clarity that still startles us today. In Ezekiel 34, we encounter one of the most searing indictments of failed leadership in all of Scripture ā a metaphor so vivid and accusatory that it leaves no room for denial or excuse. The prophet uses the image of shepherds and sheep to deliver a divine rebuke that resonates across millennia, speaking directly to our contemporary crisis of leadership.
In a world where our news feeds are filled with stories of leaders who have betrayed public trust, who have used their positions for personal gain rather than public service, Ezekiel’s ancient message feels unnervingly current. What makes a good leader? What happens when leadership fails? And who ultimately bears responsibility when a society crumbles?
Ezekiel frames the problem in stark terms:
The failure described here cuts to the heart of what leadership should be ā not self-service but service to others.
The prophet elaborates with brutal precision:
These leaders have inverted their responsibilities, transforming their role from protection to predation. Instead of strengthening the weak, healing the sick, binding up the injured, or seeking the lost, they have ruled with “force and harshness”.
Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, in his penetrating analysis of spiritual leadership, identified a fundamental tension inherent in all leadership positions that parallels Ezekiel’s shepherd metaphor. Writing in the 1970s, Lamm identified what he called “the red heifer paradox” ā a leader must sometimes descend into the messy realities of those they lead (yeridah l’tzorech aliyah ā a descent for the purpose of ascent) while simultaneously maintaining their own moral compass. This tension, between involvement and distance, between identification and integrity, defines the challenge of authentic leadership.
Ezekiel’s critique operates on two levels. First, he condemns the shepherds who have abandoned their duties. But then, remarkably, he shifts to address problems within the flock itself: “As for you, my flock… Is it not enough for you to feed on good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?” (Ezekiel 34:17-18).
This dual focus reflects a sophisticated understanding of social breakdown. Leadership failure and ethical collapse among the general population exist in a destructive symbiosis. Bad leaders enable selfish behavior among their followers, while selfish followers often select and enable corrupt leaders. The problem isn’t simply at the top ā it permeates the entire social body.
The Hebrew term for this type of leadership failure is ro’eh lo’ohavei tzon ā shepherds who do not love their flock. They see their positions not as a sacred trust but as an opportunity for self-advancement and exploitation. Lamm insisted that genuine leadership requires both ahavat Yisrael (love of the people) and ahavat HaShem (love of God) ā a balance that keeps the leader simultaneously engaged with those they serve while anchored to transcendent principles.
God’s response to this leadership crisis is twofold. First, He declares:
Divine intervention becomes necessary when human leadership utterly fails. But God also promises:
The ideal of human leadership is not abandoned but redeemed and restored.
The message for us today is unmistakable. Leadership is a sacred trust, not a personal opportunity. When we select leaders ā or when we ourselves lead ā the standard must be service, not self-interest. A leader who serves only themselves while neglecting those entrusted to their care violates the most basic covenant of their position.
As we navigate our own leadership crises today, Ezekiel’s ancient warning serves as both challenge and promise. The challenge: to recognize and reject self-serving leadership at every level of society. The promise: that genuine, selfless leadership remains possible ā indeed, it remains essential to God’s redemptive plan for humanity.
Our children are watching. The leadership models we tolerate today shape what they will expect and demand tomorrow. Teaching them to recognize authentic leadership may be one of the most important legacies we can leave them.
A 3,000-year-old prophecy unfolds now before our eyes! Five completely red heifersāunseen for 2,000 yearsāwere raised in Texas by faithful Christians before journeying to Israel. According to both Jewish and Christian traditions, these rare creatures are the final prerequisite for rebuilding Jerusalem’s Templeāa pivotal event in end-times prophecy.
The Return of the Red Heifers reveals how dedicated believers overcame impossible odds to fulfill Numbers 19, creating unexpected alliances between faiths.
This isn’t ancient historyāit’s happening in our lifetime!
