Numbers chapter 27.
Leadership is a valuable tool in moving anything forward. You need good leadership in business and in Ministry. I feel like the best leader is the one that God chooses. I think good qualities for a leader are:
- Someone with vision.
- Someone well connected with God and his guidance.
- Someone with the ability to connect with those under him or her.
- Someone willing to be stretched outside, well outside, their comfort zone.
- Someone who is humble enough, and willing enough, to learn more ways to lead. We should never have the attitude that we know what we're doing and we don't need any outside help or guidance. Sometimes we can learn how to be a better leader because the feedback we get from those under us.
God's leader should be prayed for and acknowledged before the people that they will be leading so that the people recognize that he/she is the chosen leader and must be respected and followed.
Chapter 27 began with the five daughters of Zelophehad bringing up their case to receive an inheritance among their uncles since their father had died. God gave them what they wanted and He let the people know how it should be concerning inheritances. I think it took courage for these daughters to come forward and speak up like they did.
Moses was able to see the Promise Land from the mountain of Abarim, but he won’t be able to enter into it during his lifetime. Moses knew that leading wasn’t always easy and he had made his share of mistakes, but he is concerned about the people and doesn’t want them to be as sheep that have no shepherd. God reveals to Moses that Joshua will become the next leader and the rest of the chapter is about how they will make arrangements for this to happen. I think Joshua had the five qualities that are needed to be a good leader.
The Lord made a powerful statement to His people, when He told them if there are no male heirs, the daughters should inherit. Does this imply God forgot to address this earlier? I don’t think so – I think He purposely leaves some things unsaid in His Word so that we might go to Him for more instruction. Moses did just that – he didn’t think he had all the answers after 40 years of leading the Israelites – he went to the Lord. I need to do the same.
In Galatians 3:28, we learn there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Where the gospel has gone, women’s rights have flourished, while in every culture that has rejected Christianity, women are still treated as second-class citizens.
This reminds me of one of the many mysteries of our Lord. I am continually amazed that a small group of believers in the early church – without a single page of the New Testament – were able to turn the known world upside down. Why? Because they knew how to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
There are definite, absolute repercussions of sin. Moses knew and understood this. This is why the Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). We walk in fear of God not because we are afraid of Him but are afraid of the repercussions of sin.
What really stands out to me in Moses as a leader, is that even after he knew he would not enter the promised land due to his sins and the sins of his people, he continued to lead. Just like Jim mentioned, he cared about his people being like lost sheep without a shepherd, even though those people questioned and turned against him and on many occasions. Moses could’ve blamed his people and become bitter and abandon them, yet he didn’t. As leaders in our families, at our work place, in our church, and amongst our friends, I pray that we can be leaders who never abandon our people, no matter what circumstances may come. That we seek wisdom through prayer and continue to grow into who God has called us to be.