Birthing of a Leader: Birthing Archetype in Judges 6–8
The Gideon narrative in Judges 6-8 can be viewed as an archetype for the birthing process. In this essay the term archetype is defined as a “repeated pattern of human experience often illustrated in myth, ritual, and literature.”1 Gideon’s leadership abilities are birthed through a process analogous to physical birthing.
John Gottcent, in his book The Bible a Literary Study, asserts that Acts of the Apostles 1-15 is an archetype to the process of birthing.2 Gottcent believes these chapters symbolically describe how Christianity was born from Judaism. Gottcent labels the stages of birthing, cites what occurs physically at each stage during childbirth, and then highlights the metaphoric presence of each stage seen in the book of Acts.
The three major stages of Gottcent’s birthing archetype are: conception, gestation, and delivery.3 Gottcent purports that the birthing process begins at the moment of conception and is immediately followed by the gestation stage. In the initial phase of gestation, the fetus is in a state of equanimity and is unnoticed by its mother. At the intermediary phase of gestation, the fetus starts to grow rapidly, begins to develop recognizable organs and limbs, and also starts to inherit distinguishable traits of its parents. During the latter half of the gestational period the fetus struggles against its environment within the womb (mother is discomforted by the fetus’s growth) and struggles against itself for proper physical equilibrium and interdependence (fetus tries to establish internal homeostasis). Gottcent’s archetypal birthing process concludes at the point of successful delivery.
When comparing the physical birthing process to the birthing of Gideon’s leadership, the conception stage begins at the encounter with the angel of the Lord and Gideon (Judg. 6:12-23). This is considered to be the point of conception because within these verses Gideon is called by God and has decided to answer the Lord’s call. Similar to the phase in gestation whereby the mother is unaware of the presence of the fetus, Gideon was an unassuming and pedestrian member of the tribe of Manasseh (Judg. 6:15); neither Gideon, the tribe of Manasseh, nor the Midianites knew that a great leader was going to rise up in their midst.
Gideon’s birthed leadership traits moved to the intermediary phase of gestation in Judges 6:24-7:21. It is plausible to believe that prior to Judges 6:27, Gideon was a character incapacitated by fear; he was fearful of the Midianites (Judg. 6:11) and fearful of answering the Lord’s call to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites (Judg. 6:15). Gideon began to grow remarkably from his fearful disposition to a more courageous leader by doing as the Lord instructed which was to pull down the altar to Baal and erect an altar to God in its place. In Judges 6:34-35, Gideon’s comportment begins to exhibit qualities of what we may think leaders should evince. Gideon was assertive when he sounded the trumpets for the Abiezrites to follow him (v.34) and authoritative when he delegated responsibilities to messengers to go throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulum and Naphtali (v.35).
When comparing the phase when the fetus inherits personal traits from its parents, here one might make a connection between traits inherited from God rather than passed down from Gideon. In Judges 6-8, Gideon is depicted as a charismatic leader with a divine gift whose vision convinces others of his wisdom and foresight. It is important to note that charismatic leadership is motivated by two different needs for power: personalized need for power and socialized need for power.4 Personalized need for power is expressed through authoritative decision making, self aggrandizement and suppression of people’s autonomy.5 Alternatively, socialized need for power is characterized by the need to empower the individual and the community.6 Incorporating the concepts of socialized and personalized need for power elucidates what qualities were inherited from God compared to those received from Gideon. In Judges 7:15, Gideon tells the Israelite army, “Get up; for the Lord has given the army of Midian into your hand”. By making this implicitly inclusive declaration to the Israelite camp, one could infer that this is the “socialized” trait inherited from God. Conversely, in Judges 7:18 when Gideon tells the Israelite army to shout “…For the Lord and for Gideon”, one could deduce that this is the “personalized” trait passed down from Gideon.
Judges 8:1-3, Gideon’s leadership ability was opposed when the Ephraimites asked why they were not called to the first battle with the Midianites. Gideon’s leadership also met opposition from the Israelites in the cities of Succoth and Penuel; both of these cities rejected Gideon’s request for food out of fear of retaliation from the Midianites (Judg. 8:4-8). The latter gestation phase in the archetypal birthing process is marked by the fetus’s struggles within the womb. Throughout Judges 8 Gideon’s leadership, which was given to him by God to lead the Israelites, was constantly challenged by those he was chosen to lead.
Despite the obstacles to Gideon’s gestating leadership abilities, Gideon successfully reached the stage of delivery in Judges 8:22. As a true charismatic leader, Gideon was able to move his followers from an oppressive past to a promising future. Gideon’s birthed leadership helped the Israelites defeat the Midianites and facilitated the Israelites respite from conflict for 40 years (Judg. 8:28).
The Birthing Process as Analogous to Ministry
The archetypal birthing process of Gideon’s leadership abilities can be resonating to ministers of the Word of God for various reasons. The Gideon narrative reinforces the principle of staying in constant communication with God, especially after acknowledging and accepting the Lord’s calling. It may also remind us that similar to a pregnant mother we should expect “discomfort” as we “carry” what the Lord has planned for us. However, by being cognizant of the difficulties that lie ahead, we know not to be discouraged by our struggles and to always trust that God will deliver on the promise of our calling. If Gideon is not an identifiable character to you and your situation, then perhaps another biblical character is more accessible. Looking for birthing process archetypes as we examine scripture may provide a breakthrough or serve as an inspirational role model for us to follow. Identifying birthing process patterns through biblical characters can also help us to keep a positive prospective, remain patient and stay the course in our walk with Christ. Noticing how God works in other people’s lives also facilitates the discerning of our own calling. Lastly, sharing our understanding of the archetypal birthing process with others through the preached Word of God could make the message given to congregants more relatable and retainable.
Is the Lord calling you to help lead humanity to a more promising future? In the bible, during periods of crisis, God calls upon men and women to help lead humanity out of peril. Given the perilous times we currently live in, God is undoubtedly calling us in the same way as Gideon. Examining the Word of God from the perspective of birthing could provide the inspiration and/or impetus needed to move forward with one’s calling. Sometimes recognizing the challenges and obstacles overcome by our ancestors provides us with the encouragement we need to overcome our own challenges and obstacles.
Bibliography
Gottcent, John H. The Bible: A Literary Study. Boston: Twayne, 1986.
Howell, Jon P. Snapshots of Great Leadership. New York: Routledge, 2013.
Notes
1. John H. Gottcent, The Bible: A Literary Study (Boston: Twayne, 1986), 101.
2. Ibid., 102-108.
3. Ibid., 102.
4. Jon P Howell, Snapshots of Great Leadership (New York: Routledge, 2013), 13.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
