Moses – The Leader Israel Needed
Roy Deering
A leader is defined as “one who guides, encourages and influences a group of people toward a specific goal. In business, military, academia, sports and many other facets of the world, we applaud leadership. We honor those who lead. We make heroes out of those who have developed great skills in regard to leadership.
In Scripture, there are numerous examples of individuals who had leadership roles over God’s people at one time or another. From Jesus to David to the Apostle Paul, dozens of people in the Bible have shown themselves to be successful leaders. They exhibit characteristics of leadership that people today still emulate in the business and sports world.
One of those great leaders of the Bible was Moses, the man raised as Pharaoh’s grandson who was eventually sent to Egypt by God to bring the Israelites out of slavery. While Moses was hesitant to take on the task of being God’s deliverer, Moses eventually became one of the greatest leaders in history. What characteristics of Moses made him such a great leader?
Moses Stepped Up To Lead
Although he was at first certain that God had the wrong man for the job, Moses eventually left Midian and returned to Egypt to take on the most powerful man and the most powerful nation on earth. (Ex. 3:11, 4:1, 4:10). When Moses finally realized God wanted and needed him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, he gathered his family and headed out to begin what would be a long battle with Pharaoh. It was a tremendously dangerous undertaking because Pharaohs were known to be harsh, unrelenting men of tremendous ego. Moses had to know that convincing Pharaoh to release God’s people would not be an easy task. He was almost certainly aware that challenging the authority of Pharaoh could easily lead, not only to his death, but also perhaps the death of his wife, his son and his brother, Aaron. And yet, when God needed someone to take the lead, Moses assumed the job.
Moses Knew His Place
Even though some people in business, sports or military leadership roles may command hundreds or thousands of people, there are very few who don’t also have to answer to someone in authority over them. Great generals answer to a commander higher up the chain, as do business leaders who must answer to owners or stockholders.
Even though he was designated as God’s spokesman to and leader over the Israelites, Moses never forgot that he was not ultimately in charge. He was very much aware that God was his authority and that all decisions, in essence, came down from the Lord.
There are countless examples of the Lord giving Moses commands throughout his long history leading the Israelites. From the very beginning of the story (Ex. 3) to Moses’ first encounters with Pharaoh (Ex. 6:11), Moses took the orders of his “commander” and saw that those commands were put into motion. Eventually, after the Israelites were finally free from Egypt, God continued to guide as Moses continued to lead the people through the wilderness.
Moses Was Patient
A good leader pushes his followers and can be (when needed) very demanding. But a good leader also understands that people are human—they make mistakes and they are certainly not perfect. A good leader understands that his followers will, at times, fail. He knows how to encourage, to correct and to not lose his patience when things are difficult.
During his many years leading the Israelites, Moses was forced to deal with one of the most complaint-prone groups of people that ever existed. Time after time after time, the people of God whined and moaned and complained about Moses, about God, about almost everything. And yet, Moses stayed the course and continued to press on toward the goal of bringing God’s children home to the Promised Land.
At one point, historians believe Moses may have been less than a 10-day walk from the Promised Land. And yet, because his job as a leader was not complete, he stuck with the Israelites during their 40-year wandering in the desert. God had called him to a specific purpose, and Moses was determined to see it through no matter what.
Moses Was Willing To Take Advice
Great leaders cannot be stubborn. They can be determined (as discussed in previous section), but refusing to take advice and being determined to follow a failing course of action are not signs of good leadership.
During his time as God’s deliverer, Moses set up a system in which he personally listened to and judged over all the disputes that arose. Imagine, having to take time to listen to and to rule over each and every dispute that might arise in a nation of several million people! It was proving to be an impossible task and it was taking too much of Moses’ time.
His father-in-law, Jethro, saw this was not a good system, and suggested an alternative to Moses (Ex. 18:17-23). In verse 24, the Bible says that Moses listened to what Jethro said and did all that he said. Even though Moses was God’s chosen leader, with ultimate decision making power over the Israelites, he was smart enough to know when one of his policies was not working and was wise enough to change to a policy that was obviously more effective.
Moses Was Persistent
Good leaders do not give up easily. Whether you consider a Hall of Fame quarterback on a football team, a legendary general on the battlefield, or one of the world’s most respected businessmen—great leaders simply do not quit.
When it came to God’s requirement that he lead the Israelites out of bondage, Moses had no choice but to be relentless in his dealings with both Pharaoh and the children of God. In his numerous appeals to Pharaoh, Moses was rebuffed by the Egyptian leader time and time and time again. Several times, Pharaoh announced he would release God’s people, and then immediately harden his heart and change his mind. And yet, Moses patiently stayed the course and kept asking.
Persistence was also key to Moses’ dealings with the Israelites themselves, as God’s people often responded angrily to whatever attempts Moses made to deal with Pharaoh. The first time Moses approached the Egyptian leader, Pharaoh became angry and then required the Israelites continue to make bricks without using straw. This added a tremendous burden to the Israelites’ already difficult life, and they responded by being angry—not at Pharaoh—but at Moses. Yet, Moses continued his efforts to lead the people and to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go.
If the leader gives up, why should those following him not do likewise? A great leader knows he is always an example to his followers. If he fights on, they, too, will keep fighting. If he gives up, the people’s resolve may dissolve as well.
From his willingness to take on the monumental task of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, to his determination, perseverance and persistence in guiding a sometimes difficult people, Moses was a wonderful example of the kind of leader God’s people have always needed. He was determined, yet able to listen to and follow advice when necessary, and he never lost faith in God’s promise, even when the people he was leading seemed on the verge of giving up.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned” (Heb. 11:24-29)
Though he initially doubted God’s wisdom in choosing him for the job, Moses proved time and time again that he possessed the leadership skills necessary to lead this obstinate nation out of Egypt, through the wilderness and to the doorstep of the Promised Land.
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