Only God Was Meant to Be King ---- God’s Kingdom Model: Judges, Not Kings

What if many systems we call “biblical leadership” began the moment humanity stopped trusting God to lead?

God alone was meant to be King.

Yet throughout history, humanity has repeatedly attempted to replace God’s leadership with human authority — and every time this happens, oppression follows.

God’s Kingdom does not operate through domination, hierarchy, intimidation, or control.

He governs through relationship, trust, righteousness, and the leading of His Holy Spirit.

Where God rules, freedom increases.

Where humans seek power over others, abuse inevitably follows.

When People Rejected God as King

One of Scripture’s clearest warnings appears in 1 Samuel 8, when Israel demanded a human king.

“No! We want a king over us.”(1 Samuel 8:19)

This was not a request for order.

It was rejection.

God exposes the true issue:

“They have rejected Me as their King.”(1 Samuel 8:7)

God then warned them what human rulership would produce:

• Power would be taken

• Families controlled

• Labor exploited

• Freedom diminished

• People placed under human authority

God was describing oppression.

Still, the people insisted.

They chose visible human control over trusting God.

Whenever people demand human control, it is usually because trusting God feels harder than crucifying self-centeredness, insecurity and fears.

This pattern continues today — in nations, churches, and even marriages.

God’s Design Was Judges — Not Kings

Before kings ever existed, God had already established His model of leadership.

Not rulers.

Not dynasties.

Not domination.

Judges.

Judges did not rule people as owners. They listened to God and guided others under His authority.

“Appoint judges… and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.”(Deuteronomy 16:18)

Authority remained with God.

Leadership was stewardship — never ownership.

Kingship was not progress.

It was humanity replacing divine leadership with human control.

Deborah: Leadership Under God, Not Over People

Deborah stands as unmistakable evidence of God’s Kingdom model.

“Deborah… was judging Israel at that time.”(Judges 4:4)

She led a nation because God appointed her.

Scripture never apologizes for her leadership

Never calls her an exception

Never suggests authority belonged elsewhere.

God’s Kingdom leadership is based on obedience to the King — not gender, dominance, or status.

Deborah governed under God, not over people.

True leadership points people back to God as authority rather than elevating human power – self exaltation.

Human Kingdoms Always Produce Oppression

Whenever humans claim ruling authority over others, the results are predictable:

• Control replaces trust

• Rank replaces mutual honor

• Fear replaces love

• Compliance replaces freedom

Jesus directly confronted this system:

“The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… Not so with you.”(Matthew 20:25–26)

Jesus was dismantling domination-based leadership — including religious, relational, and marital control.

Leadership in God’s Kingdom serves. It never coerces.

Because control may produce compliance, but it never produces Christlikeness or transformation.

Marriage Was Never Designed as a Personal Kingdom

Marriage was never intended to become a kingdom where one spouse governs another.

“The two shall become one flesh.”(Genesis 2:24)

Oneness cannot exist where domination exists.

Christ alone is Head of the Body.

“Christ is the head of the body.”(Colossians 1:18)

“Head – Kaphale”, speaks of source, life, and interconnection — not entitlement, superiority, or control.

When one spouse assumes ruling authority, Christ’s leadership is displaced.

And wherever God’s authority is replaced, harm follows

Many recognize abuse only when violence becomes visible, yet Scripture exposes patterns of harm far earlier.

Abuse can include:

• Using Scripture to control or silence

• Demanding unquestioned obedience

• Spiritual intimidation disguised as leadership

• Emotional domination or fear-based decision making

• Financial restriction or dependency control

• Isolation from community or calling

• Persistent belittling or humiliation

• Removing dignity under the language of “submission”

We even have “pastors” and the other prideful and arrogant call out Christlike men as weak and with less testosterone.

These behaviors are not biblical leadership; it's pride and arrogance.

They are evidence of human kingdoms replacing God.

No covenant designed by God should require someone to lose dignity, voice, safety, or spiritual freedom in order to remain faithful.

Jesus never modeled coercion, intimidation, or control.

Where control exists, God’s Kingdom pattern has already been abandoned.

Authority Was Never Given Over People

God granted humanity authority over creation and evil — never over one another.

“Be fruitful… and govern the earth.”(Genesis 1:28)

There was no hierarchy in Eden.

No domination.

No gender rule.

No human kings.

God ruled.

Humanity partnered with Him.

Control appears only after sin entered the world:

“He will rule over you.”(Genesis 3:16)

This was not instruction.

It was consequence.

Control describes brokenness — not God’s design.

Jesus came to reverse Adam’s rebellion, not sanctify it.

Jesus Refused Earthly Power

Jesus rejected earthly kingship.

“My kingdom is not of this world.”(John 18:36)

He did not dominate.

He did not silence.

He did not control.

Instead:

“I am among you as One who serves.”(Luke 22:27)

The true King washed feet.

Jesus did not serve His bride through His profession as a carpenter.

In the same way, husbands do not serve their families simply by working or earning income. A person must work and provide for themselves whether single or married.

Provision can be shared responsibility.

Service is sacrifice.

Biblical service is expressed by laying down privilege, sharing burdens, listening, nurturing, protecting dignity, and putting others before oneself.

Service looks like humility.

Service looks like partnership.

Service looks like love in action.

God’s authority liberates.

Human control enslaves.

Control Reveals Misplaced Trust

Where God is trusted:

• Control becomes unnecessary

• Superiority disappears

• Fear loses influence

• Freedom flourishes

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”(Galatians 5:1)

Control enters wherever trust in God leaves.

There can be no reverence for God when people revere themselves more

Oppression grows wherever humans attempt to secure authority God never assigned.

The Truth the Church Must Confront

Men were never designed to rule personal kingdoms —

not in nations

not in churches

not in marriages.

Whenever anyone claims entitlement to rule others:

• God is displaced

• Christ’s headship is replaced

• Freedom is diminished

All forms of abuse become normalized

God never authorized hierarchy inside His Body.

Systems that depend on control reveal distrust in God — not obedience to Him.

Final Reflection

Every time humanity demands a king, freedom is surrendered.

Jesus did not come to crown human rulers.

He came:

“To proclaim freedom for the captives… and to set the oppressed free.”(Luke 4:18)

Any system — religious, cultural, or marital — that depends on fear, hierarchy, or control does not reflect God’s Kingdom.

God never asked for earthly kings.

He asks us to trust Him as King.

Where God rules, people are freed.

Where humans rule in His place, people are wounded.

God’s Kingdom was never meant to harm the very people Christ died to set free.

For more on living under God’s leadership get the book : Life in God’s Kingdom: How to Manifest Heaven on Earth - found at Mighty4Jesus.com

Be free to be mighty for Jesus.

In freedom and might,

Jeannette