Paradoks Kepemimpinan Gideon: Dialektika Antara Ketaatan Kepada Allah Dan Kemerosotan Moral Dalam Hakim-Hakim 6–8

Abstract

The paradox of leadership has become an important theme in biblical leadership studies; however, previous studies on Gideon have generally portrayed him either as a model of faith or as a leader who experienced moral failure. Such perspectives have not adequately explained the dialectical relationship between leadership success and moral decline depicted in Judges 6–8. This study aims to examine how Gideon's leadership paradox is constructed through the dialectic between obedience to God and moral deterioration and to formulate a conceptual model that explains this dynamic. This qualitative study employs a historical-grammatical exegetical approach integrated with narrative analysis of Judges 6–8. The analysis focuses on the historical context, narrative structure, characterization, and theological interpretation of Gideon's leadership development. The findings reveal that Gideon's leadership progresses through five interrelated stages: divine calling, faith formation, obedience to God, success leading to power and influence, and a shift in leadership orientation culminating in the abuse of power and moral decline. The study demonstrates that Gideon's leadership paradox does not lie in the contrast between success and failure but in the dialectical process whereby success granted by God gradually transforms the orientation of leadership when spiritual integrity is no longer maintained. The principal contribution of this study is the formulation of the Gideon Leadership Paradox Model, which provides a conceptual framework for understanding the relationship among divine calling, leadership success, the exercise of power, and moral integrity in biblical leadership.