(Images for this series are owned and provided by Sarah Beth)

What is your leadership reputation?

What do people know you for – at home, church, work, among friends and non-believers and your other areas of influence? Is your reputation one you can be proud of? Do people know to come to you in a crisis? If they do, do they get Godly advice or just clichés?

This month’s study is on the leader, Huldah. Her reputation is so good that her story is written twice: 2 Kings 22:14-20; 2 Chronicles 34:22-33

To summarise her life and her leadership characteristics, notice these interesting observations …

  • Her leadership unveiled the future of a nation- her leadership legacy was great…
  • People went to her because of how she lived – she modeled competency and integrity…
  • She was married to a servant who was not a leader- She led and influenced even though her Husband did not…
  • She’s not described as a leader, she’s referred to by her profession and her marital status – leadership is not the be all and end all, how we work and operate in family life and other areas of influence is just as important…
  • She was summoned in a crisis- the mark of a leader is often seen by when people call on you and what they call on you for…
  • She wasn’t afraid to speak honestly and boldly for God- she didn’t soften what had to be said, she spoke boldly with clarity and honesty…
  • Her prophetic counsel was sought by some of the top men in Judah – She had leadership reputation so that even the nation’s leaders deferred to her…
  • She was a prophet in the same season as Jeremiah and Zephaniah – She was among the elect…

As a prophet in the reign of King Josiah, she took her place in the central part of the city receiving and counselling those who wished to inquire of Jehovah.

Ranking with Deborah and Hannah among the rare mentions of women leaders in the Old Testament, Huldah’s standing and reputation are shown in the way she was consulted in what was a pretty serious situation.

When Hilkiah, the priest, found the book in the Temple, Josiah sent immediately for Huldah and, confirming the genuine status of the scroll, she prophesied national ruin because of the nation’s disobedience to the commands of God. We don’t know why other prophets like Jeremiah weren’t summoned when the lost book of the law was found, but it is clear that people trusted and accepted her word, knowing she listened and spoke accurately for God to His people. Her prophetic message combined with the public reading of the law brought about a revival. The king and his people renewed their faith, resulting in the national vow to follow the God of their fathers more faithfully.

Huldah’s leadership resulted in change and truth, turning from behaviours which had been embedded for too long in God’s people. Huldah’s reputation meant she was called upon in a time of crisis, and her input changed the path of God’s people for hundreds of years.

What does this teach us? Reputation is important! How we life and lead is key to those around us. People watch us, and we have a responsibility to be of good reputation.

What do you have a leadership reputation for? How do you want to be remembered? If people come to you on regular occasions for the same or similar situations, what does that say about you and the leadership mandate you carry? That will be an indicator about who you are and how to lead positively. But let it also be a challenge to stop and weigh up what we are known for and how we can increase in our godly character and leadership standing.

12 leading women Huldah