Throughout Israel's history, godly leadership was often scarce in their relationship with God. The biblical record highlights occasional figures like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and David, but Ezekiel 34 poignantly describes Judah's leaders as shepherds who prioritized their own well-being over that of the citizens. Such self-centered leadership yielded poor outcomes, failing to guide and care for the people as a true shepherd should. In this context, a shepherd represents any human leader in authority—whether in government, education, business, entertainment, media, or even within the family—while sheep symbolize the citizens under their influence. Isaiah 3:12, written over a century before Ezekiel, reveals the decline in Judah's community life, with leaders causing the people to err and destroying their paths. Isaiah 59 further illustrates a culture in collapse due to immoral leadership, portraying a society where chaos reigned and the people suffered, yet God did not intervene with righteous shepherds to restore peace. This absence of divine response stemmed from the people's own unrepented sins, despite their cries for help. Moses stands as an exemplary leader in Israel's history, serving as God's prophet, priest, political head, governor, judge, and military commander. Under God's guidance, he formed the descendants of the Patriarchs into a nation, delivered His laws, and led them toward the Promised Land. His humility, kindness, moderation, and fairness in all dealings set a high standard, never allowing his significant roles or decisions to inflate his ego. Joshua, another notable leader, faithfully assisted Moses and later assumed leadership after his death. As an Ephraimite chosen by God, Joshua's steadfastness and humility shone through, leading Israel to serve the Lord throughout his days and beyond, as recorded in Joshua 24:31. These examples underscore the critical need for quality leadership to prevent societal degeneration under the influence of carnal minds and to guide communities toward righteousness.

The matter of leadership, whether national, local, or familial, has perpetually challenged humanity, a struggle rooted in the aftermath of Adam and Eve's sin as described in Genesis. Their failure to exercise righteous leadership by disobeying God's command led mankind into sin, setting a precedent of poor leadership that has affected billions with increased life difficulties. God intended Adam and Eve to guide their children toward righteousness, yet their legacy began tragically with Cain murdering Abel, illustrating a failure in parental shepherding. As the narrative of Genesis unfolds, only Enoch and Noah stand out as leaders who lived righteously amidst widespread corruption, contrasting sharply with the violent Nephilim and the pervasive wickedness of their time. In the history of Judah, leadership often veered into evil, as seen with King Manasseh, who initially led his nation into great sin but later repented, making significant efforts to rectify his wrongs by destroying idols and adhering to God's sacrifices. Isaiah and Ezekiel provide stark evaluations of Israel's leadership across all societal levels, not just governance. Isaiah depicts a nation in moral chaos due to leaders causing the people to err, while Ezekiel, from captivity, indicts Judah's shepherds—leaders in every sphere from government to education—for failing to guide righteously, likening them to shepherds who neglect their flocks. The concept of shepherding extends to anyone providing guidance, emphasizing the critical role of parents as the most impactful leaders due to their close relationship with their children. The example of Abraham, chosen by God for his commitment to teach his household God's ways, underscores the importance of parental leadership in practicing and demonstrating godly living within the family, a foundation essential for producing godly leaders.

The leadership of Israel, as depicted in the conditions just before Judah fell and in the current state of Israelitish nations, bears significant responsibility for the moral and spiritual decline of the people. In Isaiah 3:8-9, it is evident that Jerusalem stumbled and Judah fell because their actions and words were against the Lord, provoking His glory, with their sins openly declared like Sodom. Isaiah 3:12 further indicts the leadership, stating that children oppress God's people, women rule over them, and those who lead cause them to err, destroying the way of their paths. God places the bulk of the blame on the leaders for this downfall. In Ezekiel 34:2-10, the shepherds of Israel are condemned for feeding themselves rather than the flock, neglecting the weak, sick, and broken, and ruling with force and cruelty. As a result, the sheep were scattered, becoming prey to the beasts of the field, which are understood as Gentile nations, because there was no true shepherd to seek or search for them. God declares His opposition to these shepherds, promising to deliver His flock from their exploitative hands and to hold them accountable for their failure. Ezekiel 2:1-5 and 3:3-5 emphasize that the message of warning and rebuke is directed primarily to the house of Israel, a rebellious nation that has transgressed against God. Despite living long after Israel's captivity, Ezekiel's prophetic words are intended for Israel, highlighting persistent leadership failures. The book of Ezekiel is understood to focus on Israelitish people, just as Isaiah focuses on Judah, both revealing severe leadership problems that led to scattering by God as punishment. In the context of Matthew 24, Jesus Christ's urgent call to watch and be ready for His return underscores the need for personal responsibility amidst failing leadership. The Israelitish people within His church, possessing His Spirit, must prepare for terrible times without waiting for a leader to emerge. Each individual is called to take up personal leadership in their own life, ensuring obedience and submission to God's responsibilities as outlined in His Word, to remain faithful as these challenging times build up.