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By William Van Zyl
Published July 26, 2026
Are you a leader? Do you aspire to be a leader, or do you want to develop as a leader? If you want a unique scriptural or spiritual perspective of leadership, please continue to read.
“As soon as they hear of me, they obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.”
— Psalm 18:44–45 (KJV)
“Thy gentleness hath made me great.”
— Psalm 18:35 (KJV)
Let’s set the scene.
The Morning After the Storm
It was a night from hell. Debris from a large ship lay strewn along the coastline. Under a palm tree sat fifteen people, most shaking from the enormous ordeal that almost claimed their lives.
The sun slowly rose over a lonely island, its golden rays breaking through the mist that still hovered over the sea. The previous night had been one of terror. A rogue wave, towering higher than the bridge of the massive oil tanker, had struck without warning. Steel twisted like paper. The ship rolled violently before disappearing beneath the black waters.
Fifteen survivors had escaped death. Exhausted, bruised, and shivering, they had drifted through the darkness on broken pieces of timber until the waves finally carried them onto a tiny island nearly two kilometres from where the tanker had sunk.
Captain Yosta sat silently on a small rock under the palm tree, listening to one of the survivors who described something fascinating. Vasco—a quiet, middle-aged man—was speaking with calm confidence, thanking God for preserving their lives. Then Vasco claimed: “When I saw a column of fire above the oil tanker in the middle of the storm…”
Yosta could not understand him.
How could anyone be so peaceful after such horror?
How could someone who had nearly drowned speak as though God had walked through the storm with them?
Something inside Yosta was being drawn toward this man.
Not because Vasco demanded attention.
Not because he was loud.
But because there was a strength unlike anything Yosta had ever encountered.
Vasco smiled.
“I knew we would survive.”
Several people looked at him in disbelief.
“I am not sure whether anyone else saw it,” Vasco continued. “But during the night, above the ship, there was a great cloud of fire. I saw mighty figures moving between the sinking ship and that cloud. Did anyone else see them?”
Silence.
Yosta slowly shook his head.
“No,” he admitted quietly. “I was screaming. I believed I was about to die. Then suddenly a large wooden panel pushed into my chest. It came straight toward me, almost as though the wind had guided it into my hands.”
Vasco looked kindly at him.
“It wasn’t only the wind.”
“What do you mean?”
“I believe the angels of God pushed that timber toward you.”
The captain stared into the distance.
IMAGES: Vasco saw the mighty Hand of Yahweh during the wild storm. When Vasco saw the pillar of fire and the angels, he knew they would be saved. The oil tanker sank in the dark of night; however, they made it safely to a small island.
He wanted to dismiss the idea.
Instead, something deeper happened.
His heart began attaching itself to Vasco.
Not out of fear.
Not because Vasco demanded it.
But because he recognised something greater resting upon him.
Without anyone appointing Vasco, without elections or rank, the little group naturally began looking to him for direction.
Voluntarily, they made him their leader.
When the Presence of God Makes the Difference
This picture reminds me of David’s remarkable words in Psalm 18.
After years of hiding in caves…
After serving sheep before serving a nation…
After countless battles…
David declared:
“As soon as they hear of me, they obey me… strangers shall submit themselves unto me.” (Psalm 18:44)
This was never about David’s personality.
Nor was it about political power.
It was about the presence of God resting upon him.
Earlier in the same Psalm, David explains why.
“Thy gentleness hath made me great.” (Psalm 18:35)
How different this is from the world’s definition of greatness.
God did not make David great through pride.
Not through self-promotion.
Not through intimidation.
God’s gentleness shaped David.
Years of shepherding sheep taught him patience.
Protecting lambs taught him courage.
Playing the harp before God taught him worship.
Running from Saul taught him humility.
Serving before reigning prepared him to rule.
David never chased influence.
He chased God.
Influence followed.
David Perceived That God Had Made Him King
One of the most fascinating verses in David’s life is found shortly after he became king.
“And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.” (2 Samuel 5:12 KJV)
Notice what David realised.
God had established him.
Not his own ambition.
Not his military victories.
Not public opinion.
David understood that leadership was something God entrusted to him for the blessing of others.
His focus remained fixed on serving God and shepherding God’s people.
True spiritual authority is never self-centred.
It exists to serve.
The Holy Spirit Still Draws People Today
Psalm 18 is not merely ancient history.
The Holy Spirit still places His favour upon men and women who walk humbly with Him.
There is an authority that cannot be manufactured.
It cannot be bought.
It cannot be learned in leadership seminars.
It comes from walking closely with God.
People recognise it—even if they cannot explain it.
Jesus Himself declared:
“Ye are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
Light does not advertise itself.
It simply shines.
Darkness notices.
Likewise, believers who consistently walk in love, purity, wisdom and humility often become trusted by those who do not yet know Christ.
Not because Christians are superior.
But because Christ is living within them.
Joseph: A Slave Who Led a Nation
Joseph arrived in Egypt as a slave.
Yet even pagan rulers recognised something extraordinary about him.
Pharaoh declared:
“Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38)
Think about that.
A heathen king recognised the Spirit of God before many Israelites did.
Joseph’s wisdom was supernatural.
His understanding was beyond human reasoning.
His integrity could not be corrupted.
Eventually Pharaoh entrusted the entire nation into Joseph’s hands.
Voluntarily.
Not because Joseph demanded authority.
Because God’s Spirit rested upon him.
Daniel: Excellence That Could Not Be Hidden
Daniel lived in Babylon—a thoroughly pagan empire.
Yet king after king elevated him.
Why?
Scripture repeatedly gives the answer.
“An excellent spirit was in him.” (Daniel 6:3)
King Nebuchadnezzar described Daniel as one
“in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.” (Daniel 4:8)
The pagan king lacked the full revelation of the Holy Spirit, yet he recognised there was something divine about Daniel.
Daniel possessed unusual wisdom.
Understanding.
Discernment.
Integrity.
Peace under pressure.
His enemies could find no fault in him.
God’s Spirit distinguished him.
Wisdom Deposited by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit does far more than produce emotional experiences.
He transforms the mind.
Isaiah prophesied concerning the Messiah:
“And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2)
That same Holy Spirit now dwells within believers.
Paul writes:
“But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
James adds:
“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated…” (James 3:17)
Spirit-filled believers begin to think differently.
They respond differently.
They solve problems differently.
They carry peace into chaos.
Hope into despair.
Light into darkness.
The world notices.
Why People Follow
The greatest leaders in Scripture never sought followers.
They sought God.
People followed because they recognised God’s presence.
Moses carried it.
Joshua carried it.
Joseph carried it.
Daniel carried it.
David carried it.
The apostles carried it.
Even ordinary believers in the early church possessed such grace that Scripture says:
“…having favour with all the people.” (Acts 2:47)
The fear of God, genuine humility, unwavering integrity, sacrificial love and the fullness of the Holy Spirit create a kind of leadership the world cannot imitate.
People willingly trust those whose lives consistently point them toward God.
Our Highest Calling
Perhaps this is the greatest lesson from Captain Yosta and Vasco.
Yosta was not drawn by clever arguments.
He was drawn by the unmistakable peace resting upon Vasco.
He recognised someone who feared God more than death.
Someone whose confidence came from another Kingdom.
That is the calling of every believer.
Not to pursue fame.
Not to pursue influence.
But to pursue Christ.
To love God with all our heart.
To love people deeply.
To serve faithfully.
To remain humble.
When we do, something beautiful often happens.
People who do not yet know Christ begin to trust us.
They seek our counsel.
They ask for prayer.
They follow—not because of who we are—but because they recognise the Shepherd whose voice echoes through our lives.
May it be said of us, as it was of David:
“Thy gentleness hath made me great.”
And may we, like David, one day simply perceive that whatever influence God has entrusted to us has never been for ourselves, but for His glory and for the blessing of others.
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Copyright © 2026 by William Van Zyl
Voluntarily, They Made Me Their Leader.
All rights reserved. This eBook/article or any portion
thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
without the publisher’s permission, except for using brief quotations in a book review.
Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First published in July 2026
More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/
More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/
