Moses had the tremendous task of leading the nation of
Israel out of their 430 years of Egyptian bondage to the Promised Land. Moses was set apart from his birth for this
task when his life was miraculously spared by the Princess in Pharaoh’s house
who found him in a specially made basket floating in the river. Some have joked that Moses was a “basket
case” from the beginning and there were a couple incidents in his life that may
have confirmed this label.
Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, given a fine
education and lived a life that was very different from his fellow Israelites
who were slaves. Yet Moses never lost
touch with his people and as he grew older the oppression that he observed
stirred him to take action. In his anger
he killed an Egyptian who was abusing one of his fellow Israelites. Though his actions were wrong, we see
something in the heart of Moses that I believe God placed there and that was
his desire to see his people set free from the horrible treatment of the
Egyptians. His plan to be an individual
sniper was short sighted and ill planned and caused him to flee for his
life. His 40 years in the lap of luxury
were over and he found himself in the desert far removed from the life he had
known as well as the people he wanted to help.
Moses must have felt like a complete failure, that his life was pretty
much over and did not have much hope of ever returning to his people.
But God had not forgotten Moses, he still had a plan
for his life to fulfill the desire he had to deliver his people. The mistakes of our past may delay some
things from happening but it does not mean that they never will be accomplished
in our lives. Moses is a great example
of one who had a desire to do something great but attempted it in the wrong
way. He spend 40 years living with his
father-in-law Jethro and his wife. He
raised a family and lived a normal life in a foreign country until the day he
had a divine encounter that changed everything.
Spiritual
Leaders are called by God not self-appointed
God had a calling on Moses’ life to lead his people
out of captivity. Spiritual Leadership
begins with God’s calling not man’s desire to be lording over people. God is the one who appoints spiritual
leaders. Moses the murderer was the man
God wanted, a strange choice it would seem for many but not for God. God knew Moses’ failures but also his
potential that Moses did not even understand.
Moses did not feel qualified to be the leader.
Exo 3:11 But
Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the
children of Israel out of Egypt?"
Often God calls people into leadership to address a
specific need or situation. It was not
something they were seeking but God was seeking them and saw their potential.
Some may question his choice and those he chooses often feel overwhelmed by the
calling.
“Once Saint Francis of Assisi was confronted by a
brother who asked him repeatedly, ‘Why you? Why you? Francis responded, in today’s terms ‘Why me
what?’ ‘Why does everyone want to see
you? Hear you? Obey you? You are not so handsome, nor learned, nor from a noble
family. Yet the world seems to want to
follow you, ‘the brother said.
Then Francis raised his eyes to heaven, knelt in
praise to God, and turned to his interrogator:
‘You want to know?
It is because the eyes of the Most High have willed it so. He continually watches the good and the
wicked, and as His most holy eyes have not found among sinners any smaller man,
nor any more insufficient and sinful, therefore He has chosen me to accomplish
the marvelous work which God has undertaken; He chose me because He could find
none more worthless and He wished to confound the nobility and grandeur, the
strength, the beauty and the learning of this world.’
Oswald Sanders: Spiritual Leadership
Someone said God does not call the qualified but
qualifies the called.” This is true in
some ways but God also naturally gifts people to serve in a leadership role.
Spiritual
Leaders depend upon God
Moses had doubts about his ability to lead but God
gave him the assurance that he could do it because he was going to be with
him. Spiritual leadership is marked by
dependence upon God. The task God had
called him to do was not achievable on his own wisdom or plans. Leaders in God’s kingdom have to constantly
depend upon God to be with them, to go before them to lead the way. The way to
successful spiritual leadership is found in submission to God. God is in charge and leaders must always let
him lead. The task of the leader is to
be in a position of hearing God’s voice, seeking his plans and following his
counsel. Throughout the ordeal with
Pharaoh Moses followed this. He heard
God’s voice and understood the plan God had given to him and followed his advice. Moses’ plan was to simply carry out God’s
plan. After leaving Egypt Moses continually sought God’s counsel and
advice. Provision for a million plus people of food
and water is a mind boggling task. It is
estimated that they needed 100,000,000 gallons of water each week. Moses had to depend upon God as did all the
people. It was a training ground for
everyone to see if they would trust him to provide for them. When you have a million people living in
harsh conditions there is bound to be numerous conflicts that arise. Moses had to depend upon God’s wisdom to help
settle the disputes justly.
Spiritual
leaders face challenges with God’s promises
As God’s appointed leader Moses faced many
challenges. The promises God gave him
would be his constant encouragement when things were not happening as fast as
he thought or as fast as the people wanted them to happen. From the initial calling of Moses God gave
him specific words to reassure him that the plan would be successful.
The promise
of his return to the very location God called him.
Exo 3:12 He said,
"But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have
sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on
this mountain."
The promise
to bring the people out and bring them in to the Promised Land.
Exo. 3.16-17 "I have observed you and what has
been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the
affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites,
the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and
honey."'
The promise
of opposition but also of being released.
Exo 3:19-20 But
I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty
hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that
I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
The promise
of favor and provision
Exo 3:21-22 And
I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go,
you shall not go empty, but each woman
shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and
gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your
daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians."
The call to spiritual leadership is not an easy
calling. It is not for everyone and
those who are called will face many challenges that can be very discouraging if
one does not keep in mind the promises God has given. Moses needed this assurance to be able to
stand against all the opposition that he would receive from both Pharaoh as
well as the Israelites who would lose confidence in Moses when things got worse
for them.
The promise
of fulfilling the covenant
Later on Moses faced another challenge by the people
in captivity. Pharaoh was not complying
with Moses’ request to let the people go.
He decided to make life worse for them and this made the people question
whether Moses’ was doing any good. Their
confidence in him in the public opinion polls was down to zero.
"The LORD look on you and judge, because you have
made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in
their hand to kill us."
Exo 5:22-23
Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you done
evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to
speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered
your people at all."
This bothered Moses and he brought his concern to the
Lord. God again reassured him of the
covenant he had made with the Patriarchs would be fulfilled and he promised
that Pharaoh would drive them out of Egypt after God’s judgments on them were
rendered. Further God confirmed that he
was LORD and he was in control.
Exo 6:1 But the
LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with
a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them
out of his land." God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD.
Spiritual leaders must be people of great faith in
God. Moses had to have faith that the
promised God had given to him would be fulfilled. The Israelites did not have the faith that
Moses had, they constantly doubted and murmured about their circumstances. Moses held fast to the promises God had given
him and used them to overcome the negative feedback he was given by the people
and encouraged them to trust God to be faithful to his promises.
Spiritual leaders
cannot hide behind excuses.
Moses angered God when he tried to excuse himself from
being God’s spokesman.
Exo 4:10 But
Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the
past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of
tongue."
The perceived speech impediment was not an issue for
God but what was the issue was his faith in God’s ability to work through his
limitations.
Exo 4:12 Now
therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.
God conceded Moses’ request to have his brother Aaron
be the spokesman but his preference was to have Moses be his mouthpiece. Eventually Moses was the spokesperson that
God wanted him to be and in hindsight Moses realized that his excuse was not
valid and that he missed out on something God wanted him to experience. Excuses are often the result of lack of faith
in God’s ability to work in the situation.
Our lack of faith not our lack of ability will limit God. Just as God
promised Moses that he would be his teacher, he will do the same for us in the
areas that we feel inadequate or unprepared.
Spiritual leaders do not let perceived weaknesses become excuses for not
responding in faith in God’s ability.
Spiritual
leaders provide encouragement to people facing adversity.
When Pharaoh finally released the Israelites to leave
their country, it did not take long for him to change his mind and pursue
them. This caused great fear among the
Israelites and they complained to Moses about the death trap they were in. Moses heard their cry but responded in a way
to give them encouragement.
Exo 14:13-14
And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the
salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom
you see today, you shall never see again. LORD will fight for you, and you have
only to be silent."
By this time Moses was 100% confident that God was
going to save and deliver them. The
circumstances did not look good but God’s promises were going to be fulfilled
and Moses placed his confidence in the Lord.
There would be many more adverse circumstances that
the Israelites would face on the journey to the Promised Land. Their murmurings and complaints were numerous
but each time Moses would encourage them that God was going to see them through
and perform miracles for them. He never
sided with them and joined the complaint department. He looked to God for the answers and
continually encouraged the people.
A leader has to rise above the circumstances and not
let the complaints drag him into a mindset of negative thoughts. The seemingly darkest hours are the moments
when true leaders must take a stand and declare God’s promises to encourage the
people. The leader who cowers will lose the confidence of his people but the
leader who leads in front of the adversity will inspire his people to follow.
A story is told of George Washington’s leadership
during the French-Indian War in the U.S.A. Washington was fighting with the
British troops and they were being slaughter because they were using warfare
rules that the Indians did not know or care to follow. The British style was to line up in rows and
take aim at the enemy who agreed to the same warfare rule. The Indians used
guerilla warfare, hiding behind trees and rocks. Washington’s men quickly adapted their
strategy to minimize their loses.
Washington was on his horse riding back and forth in the battle, exposed
to enemy fire to encourage his soldiers.
The Indian chief later recounted that he told his braves to fire at the
leaders, and they did but none of the bullets entered Washington’s body. He had holes in his jacket and had 2 horses
shot out from under him but rode away unscathed. Washington was a great example of courage and
encouragement to his men.
Spiritual
leaders develop an intimate relationship with God.
When Moses met God, he did not really know God. He would become Israel’s first spiritual
leader of the newly formed nation. When
he met God he had to ask Him how he should identify him to the Israelites. Moses’
relationship with God was in its infant stages and he had much to learn. Yet
over time Moses came to know God’s character and nature. He eventually was
called the man who knew God face to face. Moses spent time with God on Mount
Sinai, two 40 day visits being taught by God. The laws he was given to teach the people
helped him understand God’s holiness, justice, mercy and his love. When Moses came down from the mountain he was
a changed man. His face radiated the
presence of God such that he had to cover it for the sake of the people. Moses sought God for wisdom in deciding cases
that were brought before him. He reached
the point in his life that the presence of God became more important to him
than life itself.
Exo 33:11-17
Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to
his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son
of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. Moses said to the LORD,
"See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know
whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you
have also found favor in my sight.' Now therefore, if I have found favor in
your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find
favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." And he
said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And
he said to him, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up
from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I
and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I
and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?" And
the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do,
for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."
Moses’ relationship with God was one of intimacy. God knew him by name and gave him favor. Spiritual leaders must spend time with
God. If they are too busy then they are
too busy and must make decisions to prioritize their lives to give time to be
with God. Without his presence in our
lives we have little to offer those who are serving under our leadership. If our spiritual tank is running on empty we
will quickly burn out and not be of value to the people we serve. A daily connection and a continual connection
to the Lord are needed to keep us filled to help us give to others. Moses experienced burn out when he was taking
on too much work deciding cases between people.
His father-in-law saved the day by giving him advice how to delegate the
work to other capable leaders. Overworking can be a real problem in
ministry. There is always something you
could be doing. There has to be a
disconnect from our work so that we can be refreshed in the presence of the
Lord. It seems to be a greater challenge today with all of the communication
devices that beckon us 24 hours a day.
As convenient and helpful as they are, they can also be a great
distraction and hindrance from setting aside time to be in God’s presence. The spirituality of the leader has a great
influence in the lives of those under their leadership. Paul like Moses set the
example for the churches under his leadership and boldly told them to follow
him as he followed after Christ.
A spiritual
leader must be an intercessor for his people.
Moses interceded for his people on several occasions.
When Amalek was at war against Israel, Moses stood at the top of the hill and
raised the rod of God over the battlefield.
He was interceding for his people asking for God’s intervention and
power to be displayed to overcome the enemy.
Moses was fulfilling a priestly role as he interceded for the
people.(Exodus 17:8-15)
When Moses was delayed in coming down from the
mountain where he was spending time with God, the people decided to make their
own god, a golden calf. (Exodus 32) This caused God reached a point where he
was willing to wipe out the nation of Israel and start over. Their hard hearts, stiff necks and at times
empty heads reached the tipping point with God.
Exo 32:10 Now
therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may
consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you."
In spite of all the hassles these people gave Moses,
he rose to their defense and interceded for them that God would not destroy
them. Moses was bonded to his people and
he pleaded with God to not wipe them out. God knew that Moses would intercede
for the people or he would not have asked Moses to “let me go.” He appealed to
God’s character and reputation among the other nations who would conclude that
God had brought them out to kill them.
Moses reminded God of his covenant with the patriarchs that he promised
to fulfill.
The prayer life of a leader for his/her personal life,
ministry and the people he or she serves has to become a regular part of daily
life. The definitive feature of every
spiritual leader is that they are people of prayer.
"Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must
arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God,
but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel
their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most
powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them."
John Calvin
