How do you describe a tree to someone who was born blind? How do you explain to him the color green or describe the texture of wood? How do you describe the sunset to someone who has never seen the sun? It becomes frustrating when you can’t describe the simplest things to one who doesn’t have sight. I said that to say this. . . It is hard being the only one with a vision in room full of blind folks. It is frustrating to a Pastor with a vision for the church and the church is full of people with their mind’s eye closed. Now don’t get me wrong, it is not the fact that they can’t see the vision that’s the problem. It is the fact that because they can’t see they don’t want to trust his vision. It is like leading a blind person by the hand, but every time you want to turn left, he starts pulling against you to turn right. Though they can’t not see for themselves, they still won’t trust the one with the vision.
When King Solomon stated that there was nothing new under the sun, he must have been referring to God’s folk. Because just as we today sometimes have a problem with following people God has placed in a leadership position in the church; Israel had the same problem in their day.
God had promised Abraham many years ago that because they were his chosen people he would make them a great nation and give them a promised land. After hundreds of years they were finally on the cusp of this promise. They stood on the outside of the land that was going to be theirs. No more wondering from here to there. No more being known as a nomad race. God was ready to deliver their prize. But before they took their land God instructs Moses to send 12 spies into the land to scope out the inhabitants. Now let’s stop here for a second. It has always puzzled me why God needed to send spies into the land. He is God, he knows what is over there and no matter how big and bad they may think they are they can’t compare to the Almighty himself. But God wasn’t spying out the land. He was spying out the hearts of his people. God had given the vision. Had guaranteed success. But still 10 of the 12 spies were to afraid carry out God’s plan. They started to see obstacles in God’s promise.
It reminds me of the Church today. When the Pastor has been led by a spiritual vision from God, some folks in the Church start thinking about why it won’t work. They start talking about the financial wall that surrounds the Promise land, and Giant doubts that dwell in the city. It is hard being the only one with a vision in room full of blind folks.
And what makes it hard to be a visionary is that folks start to complain when things don’t go the way they think it should. Let’s read verse 2 of Numbers Chap. 14. . .And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in the wilderness!
Sometimes God’s people are never satisfied. These are the very same people God had led out of captivity in Egypt. Led them across the Red Sea. And even provided them with food to eat. Yet they complained the whole way. These are the folks Moses had to deal with. The Israelites are starting to remind me of Church folk.
Do you know that there are churches who try to tell God what vision they want? There are churches who already have in mind what they want to do and then they find a Pastor that’s going to obey them instead of God. That’s what the Israelites wanted. Look at verse 4. . .And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. I guess since Moses wasn’t doing what they thought should do, they were going to vote him out. They were going to find someone that will obey them.
Now something interesting happens next. Moses fell on his face before the crowd, but it was two other men that spoke up not Moses. Let’s read verses 6-9. . .And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jef-hoon-nay which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to search it is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us fear them not.
The Pastor should not be the only one at church standing up for what’s right. He should not be the only one reminding us that the building fund is low. He should not be the only one reminding us to come to Sunday school. He should not be the only one to remind us to visit the sick and the shut in. There ought to be a few spirit led individuals in this church who are will to stand side by side with the Pastor even when the pressure is on. Even if that means you are going to get kick out of the church too. Even if it means you are going to get lied about too. Because when you are standing side by side with your spirit led Pastor, you are standing side by side with God. And as Romans 8:31 says, “If God be for us, who can be against us.”
Now God is very specific whom he puts as leader of his people. And I love the way God handles this situation. Look at the first part of verse 11. . .And the Lord said unto Moses. God didn’t even acknowledge their presences. It is like he said “Excuse me, but I’m talking to Moses.” Then he starts talking about them, in front of them, to Moses. Now God has gotten so mad that he is actually talking to himself while he is talking to Moses. God says, “How long will this people provoke me? How long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them.” God has basically said, “They have gotten on my nerves and I’m tired of it.”
Church how long does God have to keep proving he is real before we truly believe him?
What’s interesting is that God said, “How long will this people provoke ME?” When you go against the Pastor you are really going against God. The Pastor is just the messenger. When you disrespect the Pastor, you are disrespecting God. When you challenge the Pastor, you are challenging God. When you disobey the Pastor, you are disobeying God.
And God doesn’t like it when you provoke him. As a matter of fact he told Moses that he was going to wipe them out and disinherit them. But look what he told Moses. Let’s read verse 12. . . I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. When you go against the Pastor you are on dangerous ground. God will bring you to ruin while his leader prospers. He will bring you to your knees while he raise his Pastor up. God was willing start over and make a great nation come from Moses before he allows his people challenge his appointed leader.
But Moses does something that only a good Pastor would do. Moses begins to talk to God to try to save his people. The same people who tried to get rid of him, he prayed for. The same people that wanted to stone him, he prayed for. The same peopled that talked about his wife, he prayed for. In essence do you know what Moses was telling the Israelites? He was saying, “I’m going to love you anyway.” It reminds me so much of our Pastor, cause even when you won’t come to Bible class, he’s going to love you anyway. Even if you don’t shake his hand after his sermon, he’s going to love you anyway. Even if you don’t amen a word he says, he’s going to love you anyway. Even if you don’t pay him a dime, he’s going to love you anyway. Even if the Deacons hate him, he’s going to love you anyway. Even if the Mothers dislike him, he’s going to love you anyway. Even if the Church votes him out, he’s going to love you anyway.
Why? Because a good under shepherd never gives up on the sheep just because they are not following commands. He just goes and ask the Good Shepherd for guidance.
Moses begins to talk to God and he begins to convince God to be merciful. And because of Moses’ words God says in verse 20. . . I have pardoned according to thy word. How powerful is a Pastor’s love? His love can change the mind of God. Moses was safe. God was going to spare him. But because he loves Israel anyway, God showed them a degree of mercy.
I am proud to serve under a Pastor who loves the Lord and loves me. I am proud that God has led me to a man who is willing to sacrifice so that the church may prosper. I am proud to call him my friend and my mentor. I am proud that no matter what I may do, he is going to love me anyway.
