A leader is a master of hiding and flourishing - Dag Heward-Mills writes

Snakes are masters at hiding. Most of the time, the patterns of the snake’s skin camouflage the snake by breaking up its outline and making it difficult for predators to see where the animal’s body begins and ends.

A striped snake, for example, may look quite noticeable on the pavement but almost disappear when placed on the forest floor where it lives. These masters of hiding, blend with their environment until you do not notice them anymore. These characteristics give snakes the ability to hide and flourish. They prosper mainly because they are hidden from the view of others. While snakes are hiding, they are flourishing, prospering and multiplying.

A snake charmer in Bangladesh once found 3,500 poisonous cobras and their eggs hidden underneath the floors of two suburban homes. Imagine that, 3,500 cobras flourishing under the boards of your living room!

A huge viper was recently discovered on one of our building sites. When I saw pictures of this viper, I had goose bumps all over me. It was so large and so frightening and I knew that this snake should be nowhere else but in a zoo.

Where are dangerous animals kept? They are either out in the wild or confined to a zoo. But this dangerous viper had been living near human beings and flourishing. It had probably gotten married and had several children over the years. How was it able to hide and flourish? Through the master key of silence! Silence is a powerful weapon that allows you to truly hide, flourish and prosper.

… he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Proverbs 10:19

Serpents are wise because they hide and flourish

If there is a lion living in your area, you are likely to hear about it. Most animals make some kind of noise, alerting us to their existence. Even mosquitoes announce their presence. Snakes rarely make any noise. Snakes are wise because they live in silence, rarely disturbing anyone. It is rare for us to see a snake and to hear any noise because it is there. Because of this key of great wisdom, snakes flourish and prosper more than any other wild animal.

…therefore let thy words be few.…

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3

Silence, quietness, hiding and flourishing

Hiding and flourishing is a godly practice.

God Himself hides from us! Why does God hide from us? Because of our pride and presumption. It humbles us and makes us seek Him until we find Him. Learning to hide is a way of becoming an imitator of God. Have you ever wondered why the Bible teaches, ‘remove thy foot from thy neighbour’s house lest he be weary of thee and so hate thee?’ The more you are seen, the more you are despised. That is why removing your foot from your neighbour’s house is important. You are more respected and valued because you hide yourself!

Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior!

Isaiah 45:15 (NASB)

Quietness and silence will cause you to command the respect of outsiders.

Most people are uneasy around quiet people. When there is a meeting, a quiet person is often asked his opinion. He is often respected more because of his posture. If you want people to respect you, learn to keep quiet. The serpent that lies quietly in the grass without making a sound is one of the most feared and respected animals in the world.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life MAY WIN THE RESPECT OF OUTSIDERS and so that you will not be dependent on anybody

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

Hiding and flourishing will protect you from premature exposure in the ministry.

Today, most pastors love to advertise and show their faces to the world.

Advertisement is good and it has its positive effects. But if you are loud when you should be silent, you are endangering your very life and ministry. A certain level of exposure is not necessary all the time.

When Jesus’ ministry was exposed it was just a matter of time until He was killed. This is the reason why He limited His exposure until a certain point. Do not think that you need to be seen and known by everyone all the time. There is a time to be quiet and silent and there is a time to be seen.

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.

John 7:7-9

Remember, dear leader, that snakes are masters at hiding. And in hiding they flourish.

May you be a master at hiding and flourishing!