True or false: leadership is risky. As we make our way through these few chapters of the Book of Numbers we will discover that Moses will once again be reminded of this fact as he is forced to deal with several difficult situations. Each situation he faces will show that effective leadership requires wisdom, patience and creativity. As it was true in Moses’ day it is even truer in our postmodern society. Never before in history have we been more independent, mobile and stubborn. By nature people reject boundaries, structure and any other attempt to confine us. This has become truer in our culture than ever before. Today, we have smart phones that allow us to work and communicate from basically anywhere. We are encouraged as leaders to take risks and to think outside the box. Never before have we had more ways to keep in touch with others. Successful leaders know how to navigate the waters of social media and to use technology in their effort to successfully lead others. Today as we look that risks that Moses faced we will gain a better understanding of the risks that we will face. If we are not careful facing risk can bring us down spiritually. Our goal today is to discover some relevant principles that will help us navigate the difficult waters of leadership.
I. Catching up with the Hebrew people on their journey.
A. What’s new with them?
1. The people have received God’s law and have constructed a portable worship center according to God’s specifications.
2. Besides the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire God has added trumpets to their navigation system.
3. The priests were to use these silver trumpets to accomplish five things.
a. To assemble the people.
b. To call the heads of each tribe to assemble.
c. To let the people know it was time to pack up and move out.
d. To warn the people of an impending attack.
e. To be used during feasts and festivals.
4. The Sinai experience effectively introduces the people to the expectations God had for them as a nation.
B. Where are they?
1. The people are beginning the second year of their journey through the desert.
2. The people are overjoyed by the prospects of leaving the desolate area of Sinai behind them. They move out with trumpets blowing, singing and flags waving.
3. They begin the journey toward their next destination which is Kadesh.
4. This journey will prove to be quite problematic for several reasons.
a. The journey will take several months.
b. They will set up camp twenty times along the way.
c. The route will take them through another desert. The desert of Paran.
5. Needless to say the stage is set for Moses to really have his hands full.
II. Understanding what it means to take a risk.
A. Finding the definition for the word risk.
1. Our old friend Webster defines risk this way. “The possibility of loss or injury.”
2. Risk is the threat of something that could happen in a given situation.
3. The thought of facing any level of risk can cause us to feel uneasy or in some cases be overcome with fear.
4. The possibility of risk is what makes situations unpredictable and difficult to prepare for.
B. Understanding what risk looks like in our lives.
1. As leaders it means that there will be a constant target painted on our backs.
2. As Christians it will mean that we will constantly run the risk of being persecuted for our faith.
3. As Christians we will always face the risk of being exposed to situations that can destroy us spiritually.
4. There is also the risk of being attacked by Satan in order to render us ineffective for the Kingdom.
III. Moses understood the risks associated with being a leader.
A. Dealing with risks can cause discouragement and depression.
1. After trading one desert for another, the people begin to complain once again. This time it only took three days for the spirit of optimism to depart.
2. The people begin to complain about their hardships despite all of the ways God has continuously provided for them.
a. Couldn’t God have chosen a better route?
b. We are sick and tired of this manna and water diet.
3. God has finally had enough of their complaining as He sees it as a lack of faith and lack of gratitude.
4. Moses being tired of the pettiness of the people becomes so discouraged and depressed that asks God to kill him on the spot.
5. God sticks by Moses and sets a plan in motion to lift some of the burden off of Moses’ shoulders and to lift his spirits.
a. Moses workload will now be shared by seventy leaders.
b. The people will be cursed for their complaints.
B. The risk of developing a jealous heart.
1. As God empowers these seventy new leaders to help shoulder the burden, Moses now discovers that he is no longer the only prophet in the camp.
2. Joshua is alarmed by these other men prophesying and more than likely views it as a threat to Moses’ authority.
3. Moses avoids falling into the trap of jealousy be recognizing God’s authority and wisdom in the situation.
4. Using God’s perspective allows Moses to view the situation with joy. In fact, He wishes that God would empower others to do the same.
C. The risk of being misunderstood and misrepresented.
1. If dealing with the complaints of the people were not enough, Moses now comes under attack from his own brother and sister.
2. Aaron and Miriam decides to complain about the fact the Moses’ wife was not a Hebrew but a Cushite.
3. Aaron and Miriam’s true motives are soon exposed. They were not really concerned about whom their sister-in-law was, they simply wanted more power and authority for themselves.
4. Moses does not have to defend himself against these latest accusations because God comes to His aid.
5. God affirms Moses’ unique status among the people stating that unlike others He talks with Moses face to face.
6. God shows His displeasure with Aaron and Miriam by striking Miriam with leprosy. Moses compassionately intercedes with the Lord on Miriam’s behalf.
D. The risk of being rejected.
1. Eleven months after leaving Sinai the Promised Land is in sight and the people ask to send out scouts and the Lord authorizes the sending of twelve to check out Canaan.
2. Each person chosen to scout out the land came from a different one of the twelve tribes. Included in this number were Joshua and Caleb.
3. The scouts return with two different reports about the land.
a. Ten of the scouts saw the land as being good but because of the military capability of those in the land believed that the land could not be conquered.
b. Two of the scouts looked at the situation through the lenses of faith. The land is good and well fortified but by the power of God the Land can be conquered.
4. In this situation majority rules and the people are overcome with fear and begin to blame Moses and Aaron for putting them in a hopeless situation.
5. Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb all fall before the Lord but the people choose to reject Moses’ leadership out of fear.
E. The risk of resentment and desiring to get even.
1. The Israel’s lack of faith and rejection of Moses set the stage for him to retaliate against them especially in light of what God decides to do.
2. God decides to wipe the Hebrew people of the face of the earth for their continued disobedience and lack of faith.
3. God opens the door wide for Moses to get even with the people for their rejection when He tells Moses that He will make him into a larger and stronger nation.
4. Moses chooses not to walk through the door of retaliation when he pleads with God to have mercy upon the Hebrew people.
5. God shows His mercy by reducing the penalty by permitting the next generation to enter the Promised Land with only Joshua and Caleb from the present generation.
IV. Relevant principles for dealing with the risks of leadership.
A. The life of a leader is never easy.
1. If you choose to lead you expect sleepless nights, criticism and discouragement.
2. Leaders go through life with a target on their back. Their lives are constantly under the microscope.
3. There are several things leaders must do to deal with the difficulties of leadership.
a. Pray daily.
b. Spend time daily in God’s Word.
c. Pray for wisdom.
d. Read everything you can get your hands on in regard to leadership.
4. Accept in the very beginning that being a leader is extremely trying and difficult.
B. The risks associated with leadership can be dangerous spiritually.
1. It so easy to get caught up in the tasks of leadership that you begin to neglect your own personal spiritual growth.
2. You cannot lead anyone toward spiritual growth if you are not growing spiritually.
3. As we saw with Moses, remember that leadership brings with it many threats to your personal spiritual health.
C. Leadership is never dull; in fact it is usually quite eventful.
1. When you are a leader learn to expect the unexpected. Things will never go as planned.
2. Remember that when you are dealing with people frustration and discouragement are inevitable.
3. A leader must be creative to deal with the many situations that will be put in front of them.
4. With each day and every person there will be a new and unexpected challenge.
Closing:
The story is told of a dog who loved to go on walks with the family. He would always run out in front of the group, then proudly walk along with his head high and his tail wagging. Undoubtedly he believed himself to be the leader. However, he would constantly keep looking back to check the direction in which the family was walking. When a corner was reached he would stop and wait to see which direction the family took, then run out front to resume "leading" once again. Although the dog manifested the outward appearances of leadership, the fact was he was following out in front!
In our homes, at work, among our friends, and in the church, we are called toward heaven. Through our daily commitment and example, we encourage others to follow along with us. Neither dominating others nor deferring to popular opinion, we lead the way. Someone once said, "A good leader not only knows the way, but shows the way!"
