COURAGE TO LEAD

• DAY 299
• FEAR FILE: MOSES
• SCRIPTURES: EXODUS 32

Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.

EXODUS 32:30-33

Leadership requires courage. You can’t lead a set of people and escape your faith being tested in every way. What I used to consider the most unreasonable about leadership is taking responsibility for things I did not do just because I am the head of the team. I spent hours and days telling everybody to do what they were supposed to do. And these people decided that they would go in the other direction. If I go before my boss and blame my team I’m a terrible leader, make it make sense. But that is leadership. I had to learn this the hard way because I believed that I did my part, if they messed up, that’s on them. Wrong! A leader must be willing to take the fall for the team.

Moses was obviously not the leader I was. He was more courageous than I was years ago. When Israel messed up and made a graven image of a golden calf God was ready to destroy them all and start a new generation with Moses. But Moses turned it down and pleaded with Him to forgive for the sake of his covenant with Abraham and the Egyptians who would misinterpret the situation. God listens and changes His mind (Exodus 32:9-14)

Me Not Them

However, when Moses returns to God after seeing the extent of their sin he pleads again but this time he puts himself on the line by saying, “God forgive their sin. If you will not forgive, let me take responsibility for it. Blot me out, instead of hurting them.” God had said, “I want to hurt them and bless you. Moses responded by saying, “bless them and hurt me. I’m the representative you put here and I will put myself on the line for these people. They have to get to the promised land at all costs.” That right there is faith and courage. No wonder he is the meekest man on earth.

A good leader puts himself on the line for the people he leads because the goal is more important to him than his self-preservation. Moses’ responsibility was to lead these people to the promised land. That’s the entire goal. If Israel doesn’t make it in, whether the first or second generation he has failed. Beyond that, he was more concerned about God’s glory.

You Lead

Our world is plagued by selfish leaders who are lovers of themselves, especially in Africa, but we need leaders who are not afraid to fight for the well-being of the citizens and God’s will for the nation they lead. But guess what, this change starts with you and me. How do we lead in other areas of your life?

As a leader in your business, job, or your home, are you willing to put yourself on the line to see that God’s will is done and the people in your care achieve the goal God set for them? Jesus said, “And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.” He gave His life to fulfill this assignment.

May the Lord give you the courage to lead like Moses and Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom.