The Risks of Leadership

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I look to the future, I trust in You. When I am discouraged, I turn to You. My hope, trust, and faith are in You.

Read NUMBERS 20:1-13

^[1] In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. ^[2] Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. ^[3] They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! ^[4] Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? ^[5] Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” ^[6] Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. ^[7] The LORD said to Moses, ^[8] “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” ^[9] So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. ^[10] He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” ^[11] Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. ^[12] But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” ^[13] These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he was proved holy among them.

Meditate

“We must follow the way of Christ rather than the way of American culture. Instead of asserting ourselves, we crucify ourselves. Instead of imagining all the things we can accomplish, we ask God to do what only he can accomplish” (David Platt). It is not easy to be counter-cultural, but it is God’s way.

Think Further

The narrative has moved forward four decades since yesterday’s reading. During that time, the people have been wandering in the Sinai Peninsula. Now they are back at Kadesh (1), where they had foolishly and fatefully rebelled against God’s purpose for them. In no time the people resort to type, complaining and quarrelling, this time about a lack of water. Moses surprises us. He slips up, forfeiting entry to the Promised Land.

Why did Moses disobey God’s clear command to speak to the rock? Was he too casual? The people were gathered in solemn assembly before the rock as if before the Ark of the Covenant (10), and the rock was a frequent metaphor for God (Psa. 18:2; 31:3)–but Moses failed to honor the Lord as holy before the people (12). Or was Moses too traditional? The previous time he faced a situation like this, God told him to strike the rock (Exod. 17:6). It worked 40 years before, so it must work again now. Perhaps Moses, approaching his 120th year, had become set in his ways and was finding it difficult to work with a God who innovates. Again, had Moses become too complacent? Was he overconfident? For 40 years he had dealt successfully with popular protests. Why should the outcome in this case be any different? His statement that he and Aaron could bring water out of the rock (10) suggests that he may have felt he didn’t need God quite as much as he once did. Or was Moses too impulsive? Perhaps he lost his cool. Maybe he struck the rock twice (11) in anger. Certainly later generations believed his speech on this occasion (10) was “rash” (Psa. 106:33).

Christian leadership demands a deepening dependence on God (Acts 20:28). For this reason leaders need your prayers and encouragement (Heb. 13:17).

Apply

Take a few moments to pray for the leaders of your church.

Closing prayer

Lord, I remember all those in leadership, whatever the sphere. Guide their thoughts. Guide their decisions. Give them wisdom, compassion, patience, and discernment.

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