The Failure of Leadership

Imagine a ship navigating through a stormy sea. The captain stands at the helm, entrusted with the safety of every passenger and crew member. The waves crash, the wind howls, and all eyes turn to the captain for direction. Now picture this: instead of steering toward safety, the captain begins plundering the ship—tossing supplies overboard, breaking the compass, and feasting on the crew’s rations while they starve. The ship drifts aimlessly, and when the captain finally cries out for rescue, the coast guard’s radio remains silent. This is a picture of leadership gone wrong—a vivid illustration of what the prophet Micah confronts in Micah 3:1-4.

Micah addresses the “heads of Jacob” and “rulers of the house of Israel.” These were the judges, priests, and political leaders tasked with guiding God’s covenant people. But instead of shepherding with justice and care, they had become predators, exploiting the vulnerable for their own gain. Micah’s words are graphic and unsettling—leaders “tearing the skin” and “eating the flesh” of the people conjure images of wolves devouring a flock rather than shepherds tending it.

Leadership, at its core, is about responsibility. Whether you’re leading a family, a team, a business, or a community, God holds those in authority to a higher standard. This isn’t just a historical rant—it’s a timeless warning and a mirror for anyone who influences others. The question Micah poses—“Is it not for you to know justice?”—cuts to the heart of godly leadership. Leaders are expected to uphold what is right, not twist it for selfish ends. Yet, these rulers loved evil, hated good, and treated their people like livestock to be butchered and consumed. I want us to notice three things this morning.

The Leaders’ INJUSTICE.

Verses 1-2a; Previously, Micah addressed his comments to God’s people in general. Now he specifically speaks to their leaders, because they had both a special responsibility and accountability before God. The word Hear is the Hebrew word shamah’, it is an imperative (command). It is a call to listen, to heed and respond by putting into practice what is heard. The term “Jacob” is often used to refer to the nation of Israel as a whole, and by addressing the leaders of Jacob, Micah is emphasizing their role and responsibility in ensuring justice for the people they govern. Micah askes them a rhetorical question: “Is it not for you to know justice?” Clearly the answer to this rhetorical question is "Yes!" The leaders and rulers were supposed to know, love and practice justice, "right from wrong." (NLT) These leaders were a far cry from the qualifications Moses listed in Exodus 18:21. It is not that they did not intellectually know the law codes but that they lacked the compassionate, just hearts to practice the law.

Next, Micah accuses them by saying, “you who hate the good and love the evil.” It is a dire situation for any nation when the leaders invert and pervert the truth for personal gain and choose to believe the lie! Proverbs 8:13; It follows that these corrupt leaders had no holy, reverential fear of the Holy God! They had been warned over and over again to hate the evil but refused to listen (Psalm 97:10; Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:14). In the ancient Israelite context, leaders—especially priests and prophets—were expected to be exemplars of divine truth and justice. By hating the good, they not only betray their office but also lead the community astray. Micah, like other prophets, uses this language to indict the leaders’ moral decay, highlighting how their embrace of evil directly undermines the covenant community. Let me ask you this morning: do you hate evil and love good?

The Oppression of the People.

Verse 2b; The language here is hyperbolic and visceral. “Tearing the skin” and “removing the flesh” are images of violence and brutality, evoking the complete and utter exploitation of those entrusted to the leaders’ care. This verse highlights the stark contrast between the wickedness of the leaders and the suffering of the innocent people they are supposed to protect. It serves as a stark warning against the consequences of corrupt leadership and the importance of leaders acting with integrity and compassion towards those they govern. He goes on to say in verse 3. The verse is a metaphor for oppression—leaders are depicted as cannibals who consume their own people for personal gain. The leaders are not physically eating people or chopping them up. Instead, this vivid imagery symbolizes their exploitation and oppression of God’s people. The metaphors—eating flesh, flaying skin, breaking bones, and preparing meat for a pot—paint a picture of systematic, ruthless abuse. In ancient Israel, leaders were expected to act as shepherds, protecting and caring for the people under God’s covenant (Ezekiel 34:2-3). Here, however, Micah portrays them as butchers, treating the people as mere resources to be consumed for their own gain. The similes "like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron" reinforce this idea, suggesting a deliberate, methodical process of destruction, akin to preparing a meal. This intensifies the horror of their actions, emphasizing their complete disregard for the dignity and well-being of those they were meant to serve.

These verses use powerful metaphorical language to condemn the leaders of Israel and Judah for their brutal oppression of God’s people. Far from upholding justice, they exploit the vulnerable, treating them as prey to be consumed. Set against the backdrop of 8th-century corruption, this verse reveals the depth of their sin and foreshadows divine judgment. Theologically, it affirms God’s demand for righteousness and His solidarity with the oppressed, offering both a warning and a call to repentance that resonates across time.

God’s Judgment and Silence.

Verse 4; When is "then?" When the judgment of God falls on them (all the disasters of which Micah had already prophesied in Micah 1-2)! Presumably when the exceeding ferocious Assyrians invaded and defeated the Northern Kingdom in 722BC and Babylonians the Southern Kingdom of Judah in 586BC. Sin is deceitful (Hebrews 3:13), so when these leaders sinned (and when we sin), they did not seriously consider (or they refused to believe) that God would truly punish them. They falsely reasoned that surely He would not follow through! But Micah predicts with the time sensitive word "then" that the day of accounting would come upon them. And when they felt themselves drowning so to speak, they would seek God's help, but it would be as they say "too little, too late." They cried out to God, and what does God do? He ignores them. He even goes so far as to hide his face from them. The act of “hiding his face” is a metaphor for God’s deliberate distancing from those who reject him. Despite the people’s cries for help, God’s response is reflective of the principle found throughout the Bible that God does not tolerate wickedness and will not protect those who persist in evil. It underscores the importance of living in accordance with God’s will and the consequences that follow when individuals and nations stray from righteousness (Proverbs 1:28-29; Isaiah 59:1-2). Why does God hide his face from them? “Because they have made their deed evil”. This final statement is striking because it implies that the people’s very desires have led to their predicament. Their persistent turning away from truth and righteousness has effectively paved the way for this moment of divine withdrawal. Their chosen path—rejecting God’s instructions and embracing corruption—has now brought about the result they, in some measure, had set in motion. It is a sober reminder that the consequences of our choices often align with our own desires.

Micah delivers a sobering reminder that God holds those in authority to a high standard. The leaders of Israel, tasked with knowing justice, instead perverted it—oppressing the vulnerable and exploiting their power for selfish gain. God’s response is clear: when they cry out in their distress, He will not answer. This passage underscores that leadership is a sacred responsibility, not a privilege to be abused. Today, we’re called to reflect on our own spheres of influence—whether in our homes, workplaces, or communities—and consider how we’re stewarding the authority God has entrusted to us. True justice aligns with God’s heart, defending the weak and honoring Him, not serving ourselves.

So, what does this mean for us today. Everyone one of us can be considered a leader in some way. There are always other people watching us (whether seen or unseen) and following our example. Take a moment today to examine where you have influence or authority, no matter how small it seems. Ask yourself: Am I using this position to reflect God’s justice and love, or am I prioritizing my own comfort and gain? Today, challenge yourself to identify one area where you can realign your actions with the call of righteousness. Whether it means speaking truth in a difficult situation, extending kindness to someone in need, or stepping up as a servant leader, commit to living out the integrity and compassion that God desires. Let this be a day of renewal—a day to mend broken relationships, restore justice, and ensure that the light of truth shines brightly through your actions.