Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges… (Judges 2:16-17 ESV)
Leaders
These judges did not wear black robes and ensure that court cases were just. Rather, Old Testament judges were like kings, princes, chiefs, or bosses.
And the Lord gave the Israelites, just forming God’s Kingdom on earth, judges who saved them from nearby kings who were oppressing them. Most of the judges had questionable character, were disobedient, and were not clear God-proclaimers.
But the Lord did not save them through the judges in response to the people’s faithfulness… clearly they were disobedient, and did not follow the Lord’s appointed leaders.
But yet He saved them.
Because God’s salvation is not conditional on His people’s obedience. God’s salvation is conditional on His grace. He is gracious, and so He saves.
God shows here that He is always at work saving His people. Often not in the way we expect. Probably not in the way we ask. Usually not following OUR ideas of salvation.
But God is graciously at work. Yes, even when He sends us undesirable leaders. Yes, even when He sends us unrighteous leaders. Yes, even when He sends us bad leaders.
His plan is a longer plan, a more complex plan, a more delightful plan than we imagine. And even when His plan includes suffering politically, financially, or nationally… He is saving His people in the way that HE knows we need to be saving.
So yes, He is gracious even in the leaders He gives us.
The leaders God gives us are a gracious blessing.