This article addresses why some leaders achieve a “God”-like status. This phenomenon is also known as the Pharaoh Complex.

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes,
smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.

– John Maxwell

I have always been fascinated with political leaders like Putin and Kim Jong Un, religious and spiritual leaders like Hindu godman Nithyananda, Jeong Myeong Seok, Jesus Morning Star Korean religious leader (jailed for rape, sexual exploitation, abuse of money & financial misconduct) and business leaders like Sam Bateman Fried, FTX Founder (sentenced to 25 years for multi-billion dollar fraud) and sports godfather-like ex-FIFA boss, Joseph Sepp Blatter who will never admit to their wrongs even though the whole world knows that they have committed crimes.

In our unpredictable, chaotic world, filled with fake news and a clamor for quick fixes, short-termism, and instant gratification, the rise of more leaders is not just a possibility, but an inevitability. We must be prepared for this.

As more leaders rise, it becomes increasingly important for us to exercise critical thinking. We must not be swayed by their charisma or promises, but instead, evaluate their actions and decisions with a discerning eye.

I call this the ‘The Pharaoh Complex.’ We can take a leaf from the biblical narrative of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus, who subjected the people of Israel to slavery.

Allow me to summarize for those who may not be familiar with this story.

When Moses & Aaron pleaded with him to release the people, he refused to let them go even though God had performed miracle after miracle of plagues to “persuade” him to do the right thing. Not only did he refuse, he even challenged them with his despotic and ruthless behavior.

When he finally let the children of Israel go, he summoned his army and chariots to hunt them down, but they drowned when the Red Sea collapsed on them after the Israelites had crossed it.

Pharaoh was stubborn, arrogant and emboldened to inflict greater suffering on the people of Israel. The Holy Book calls this, ‘the hardening of the heart.’

We see similar patterns of god-like behavior in some political and business leaders today. I often wonder why these leaders refuse to face their depravities but continue to believe in their own invincibility, enrich themselves and their cronies in their own corrupt and repressive ways, and use their tyrannical leadership to exploit the poor and disadvantaged.

These leaders exhibit the same characteristics as the Pharaoh:

1. They think and behave like a god

 “We are an arrogant species, full of terrible potential to behave like God when given the opportunity.”

Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5: 2 NIV)

The magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:19 NIV)

Ancient Pharaohs believed that they were gods. Their subjects bowed to their every whim and fancy. When leaders behave like gods and have followers who worship them as such, they assume and maintain a veneer of indestructibility. They would never admit to their vulnerability and continue to act with an air of invincibility.

Like Pharaohs, when they face opposition, they can become more defiant and will bolster their courage to cause more damage to those who dare to stand up against them. Some even behave as if they are greater than God. At the same time, their followers are convinced that they could do no wrong. Evil is then tolerated and embraced as a way of life.

2. They will do anything to avert losing power

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it,
and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.

-Aung San Suu Kyi

But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!” Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.” (Exo 5: 4,5 NIV)

Lord Acton’s famous adage, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” needs to be modified to Aung San Suu Kyi’s famous words, “Fear of losing power that corrupts those who wield it”. Pharaoh would not allow any mortal or immortal to challenge his position and privilege. He would preserve his power at all costs.

Many of these leaders truly fear the loss of power. Because with it comes the loss of face, accumulated ill-gotten wealth, special privileges and lifestyles, and even the loss of their own families and lives (as in what happened to Gaddafi and Mubarak).

Hence, the fear of losing power will drive these leaders to all sorts of malevolent and malicious acts against their opponents.

3. They will use their fraudulent resources to manufacture their image and safeguard their status

A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth.
The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others
and nothing to learn from them is not just.”

 – Martin Luther King Jr.

Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things through their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff, and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staff. (Exodus 7:11, 12 NIV)

Their evil ambitions continue to wreak havoc on their people, organizations and countries because they have resources available to them. Most of these resources are fraudulently obtained, allowing them to bribe their way, holding on to power.