Exodus 32:1-35 - Leadership Challenges And Failures

So Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Alas, this people have sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written." This is what a leader really looks like. "God, there's no excusing the behavior, guilty as charged, but I'm turning to you because of who you are. I'm asking you to be merciful. I'm asking you to extend grace. But if you're not willing to do that, then go ahead and blot me out as well. If you're not going to be who I believe you are, then I'd rather not be here."

A true leader puts his life on the line for those that he leads. We can't lose sight of that when it comes to our children, when we're battling for them in a spiritual sense. "God, if you're not gonna move, I'd rather not be here to see their demise. But because I believe in you, because I have confidence in you, I'm trusting you to deliver." We have to be bold when we approach God's throne and stand in the gap for others. It's not dismissing what's happened; it's asking God to be who He is. "God, I'm not trying to excuse anybody's behavior. I'm asking you to be merciful because that's who you are."

Let's continue on here. The Lord said to Moses—verse 33—"Whoever sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. But now, go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them." God reminds Moses, "I'm going to fulfill the promise that I've made. I'm going to continue to lead you, but there's a consequence. Sin always has a consequence." Verse 35: And then the Lord sent a plague on the people because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

So, as we wrap this chapter up this morning, a couple of thoughts I want to leave for you: Number one, God has put each one of us in a place to stand in the gap for others. The question is, are we going to do that? As a church, are we going to stand in the gap for our city? Are we going to cry out to God that He would move in the hearts and lives of people? Are we going to remind Him of who He is and what His heart is until we see our community change? Are we doing that for our families? Are we doing that for our neighbors? Are we doing that for our workplace, for our school? Are we engaged in active battle for the people that God has called us to lead? And if we're not, we need to examine ourselves. Why not? Or have we been like Aaron? Have we compromised? "I don't want to offend anybody. I don't want to rock any boats. I don't want people not to like me, so I'm gonna participate in the compromise." That's a hard question every one of us has to answer every day.

But the thing we find is that one man, one woman, on their knees crying out to God on behalf of others can make a difference. It can truly change things. That was the greatest joy of watching my son. God boxed him in on a submarine, and now he's living the life that I always wanted him to have. It's all God, but the battle was mine to fight; it was Carol's to fight. We're called to fight. Sometimes that's one of the uncomfortable parts of leadership. Sometimes I have to put myself in between God and people, and that's not always an easy place to be because there's no excusing the people, but I know my God is bigger than their sin. I know God is bigger than my frailties. I know God is bigger than any challenge that they face.