Moses: Great Example of Leadership
Exodus 4; Deuteronomy 1:9-18; Hebrews 11:23-28
Introduction
1. The Old Testament and the great stories and examples that we can read about in it serve as a tutor and guide for us to learn from it. Rom 15:4.
2. Moses was a “one-of-a-kind” leader. “…there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses…” Deut 34:10ff
3. The church is in desperate need of leaders today. We have failed in training and encouraging our young men (and women) to be elders, deacons, preachers and teachers.
4. We will see what made Moses a great leader and attempt to make practical application to our individual lifestyles today.
5. This lesson is primarily directed toward the elders, teachers and preachers but can also be applied to each of us for we are all leaders by example.
History
1. Moses was the son of captive Hebrews, Amram and Jochebed, and the brother of Aaron and Miriam. Exodus 6:20
2. When Moses was born he was saved from death and as he grew up he “was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.” Acts 7:17-22
3. At age 40, Moses fled Egypt and lived in exile for 40 years where he married Zipporah who gave birth to two sons. Exodus 18:2-3; Acts 7:23-29
4. After being convinced that God spoke to him, Moses overcame initial reluctance and went back to Egypt, with Aaron as his helper, to confront Pharoah to “let my people go” Exodus 5:1
5. Moses led the people of Israel in their deliverance through the Red Sea and for the next 40 years in the wilderness.
*Through Moses, God delivered His law to the people and directed Moses to lead the people to be a holy people. God spent a lot of time getting Moses ready for his commission to lead His people. In our study of Exodus 4 we will learn some of the principles of good leadership that Moses exhibited.
I. Humility
A. Moses had just had a conversation with God at the burning bush.
B. This was an experience unknown to any other man. He had just been shown the power of the God of the universe. And this power would accompany him on his mission! Yet he shows no arrogance and no demand for special concessions on his behalf.
C. In fact he shows much respect by first asking his father-in-law permission to leave. Exodus 4:18 How many of us would have just “taken-off” and done our own thing just because God talked to US.
D. Are we dependable and respectful to company policy where we work and the peers to whom we work with. It is important that we stress to our young people the importance of honesty, punctuality, and dependability beginning with their first job. This will only help groom them for future positions that will require good leadership qualities.
E. Young preachers need to be careful not to get “big-headed” and allow the attention that they may receive to provoke in them laziness and arrogance that will make them take short-cuts about responsibility.
* Moses was not arrogant, but respectful and considerate in spite of the magnitude of the task that he was about to endure. *
II. Patience
A. If you recall back in Exodus 2:11-15, Moses had killed and Egyptian and fled from Egypt to Midian because Pharoah was out to kill him. God tells Moses in Exodus 4:19 that those men who sought to kill him are now dead.
B. Sometimes the best way to deal with our enemies is to quietly remove ourselves from their presence if it is at all possible. Abraham and Lot put time and distance between them to avoid strife (Genesis 13) as did Paul and Barnabas when they had a disagreement about taking John Mark on their second journey (Acts 15:36-41).
C. Good leaders need to know how to assess situations. They know to save their battles for things that really matter. Parents need to learn that in dealing with their children. Preachers and elders need to learn it in coping with congregational issues that are matters of judgement and not doctrine. Sometimes it is better to leave in peace rather than cause division over personality conflicts in the church.
D. Moses’ service after his return from Midian was more effective than it would have been if he had taken a stand prematurely.
E. Another example of this is with Joseph and the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:13-15) Joseph could have taken a mighty stand and said, “My son is the Son of God!” I am not afraid of Herod!”. But rather he fled to Egypt as he was commanded and waited there until Herod died.
F. It’s not always easy to see in advance just how God is going to work things out, but in retrospect, we can see how His providence worked if we will have the patience to trust Him. As Moses stressed to the people later, mature leadership sometimes calls on us to “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13)
*Moses had the patience to cope with his enemies
III. Not Always Easy Just Because You Serve God
A. Pharoah’s heart would be hardened (vs. 21). In other words God told
Moses, “Don’t expect things to be easy. Pharoah is not going to cooperate with you” God did not make Pharoah act this way but he knew how Pharoah would react. The very nature of commands
sometimes makes the rebellious to become very stubborn.
B. If you have the role of the superior or have to exercise authority, you will not always have the cooperation of your employees, members, etc. Rules will sometimes cause resentment and hardheartedness.
C. Pharoah did not respect God’s authority. He said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?” (Exodus 5:2)
D. Moses had to learn to cope with Pharoahs attitude. Good leaders have to realize that merely because they are trying to do a good work does not mean they will be spared problems. And even if you are doing a work of the Lord, problems will still arise and a good leader needs to learn to deal with these effectively.
E. Leaders who stand for the truth today don’t have to let rebels destroy God’s work. By being consistent and patient, wisdom and maturity will come to help them to cope.
F. Sometimes, even though you are standing for simple biblical truth, you make both the devil’s camp and your own folks mad at you. Not only was Pharoah angry with Moses, but often times it was his own people that were mad at him (Exodus 5:20-23)
G. Even the great Elijah was called a trouble maker (1 Kings 18:17). He made it clear that the real troublers of Isreal were those who had forsaken the paths of truth.(1 Kings 18:18). So it is even today.
* Moses learned not to expect everything to be easy just because one serves God *
IV. Informed people would be Responsive
A. Exodus 4:30-31 tells us that the people believed and worshipped
B. We learn at this point, when the people had God’s plan explained to them, they bowed their heads and worshipped. This was not the end of the matter, because later their frustrations kept them working overtime on emotional highs and lows, but at least at the moment of being informed, they were responsive.
C. Congregations that are kept “in the loop” with sound Bible teaching and information about congregational activities and commitments are usually willing to work in peace. Of course, there are times when elders cannot reveal all the facts about delicate matters in a congregation without causing hurt to some, but if members have confidence in them, they will still respect them and be able to grow.
D. Unfortunately, with many Christians it is easier to grumble than to keep one’s self enlightened.
* Moses believed that an informed people would be a responsive people *
Conclusion: Moses’ Leadership Seminar
Good Leaders:
· Understand the past and realize the cause of which they are part. Moses reminded the people of what God had done for them and gave Him credit for it. Deut. 1:9-12
· Surround themselves with good men who have ability and delegate responsibility and authority to them to do their job. Deut. 1:13-15
· Wisely make themselves available to listen to the people they lead and then deal openly and objectively in evaluating their views and concerns. Deut. 1:16
· Do not let pressure groups influence them or deter them from making sensible decisions that are fair and right. Deut. 1:17
· Must remember that they are not infallible. Even Moses had to depend on God because he had his human limitations. Deut 1:17
· Know that no amount of planning and public relations hype suffices for seeing that the work gets done. Moses referred to the things he had “commanded you at that time…which ye should do.” Deut 1:18; Exodus 18:20
Leaders are still human and will at times make mistakes. That is why we should not follow them any more than they themselves are following God. We should be thankful for wise, conscientious leaders, but realize that they cannot answer for us individually. We are responsible for personal obedience to God and for cooperating with leaders who are pleasing to God in advancing the cause of Christ.
