MOSES: A MAN WITH A HARD LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

INTRODUCTION:

Moses is quintessential biblical leader among men. The book of Hebrews chose him to be favorably compared with Jesus from the long list of possible candidates.

John W. Ritenbaugh states

“Moses was God's prophet, giving the Word of God to those being formed into a nation. He also served them as priest, being the intermediary between them and God, establishing the functions of the Levitical priesthood. Moses delivered God's laws to the Israelites and led them into making what we call the Old Covenant with God.”

Moses was a man of God’s own chosing. He was the chosen to lead his people out of the Egyptian bondage. As a man, he had outstanding qualities of a leader, one of rank in the most powerful nation of that time, and probably had a superior intellectual properties. Yet, none of this “went to his head.” He served under God’s superiority as a servant-leader. Being a servant leader is HARD. Yet, we will try to make it easy by providing meaning to the acronym HARD.

1. Moses was a humble man.

HUMBLE

Exodus 3:11 “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?””

HUMILITY

Unworthiness of the Task

God’s answer: Exodus 3:12 “He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.””

God’s presence is promised

SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY

Exodus 3:13 “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?””

understanding of who is in-charge

understanding of his role in the history of salvation

God’s answer: Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ””

God covenanted with Moses

RECOGNITION OF CAPABILITY

Exodus 4:10 “But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.””

Understanding of limitations

Understanding of weakness

Four traits of a humble leader:

Lifts others up

Values kindness and respect towards others

Does not gossip

Have good self-image but don’t need to tell others how good they are

Inspires trust, authenticity, and close teamwork.

2. Moses was an altruistic man.

ALTRUIST

Exodus 32:30-32 30The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” (NIV)

INTERCESSOR/MEDIATOR

serves as an intercessor between God and his people

pleads for his people

SACRIFICE

ready to lay down his life for his people

Traits of an altruistic leader:

shows empathy - have a good feel for others

shows friendliness, kindness, and praises others

have good listening skills and able to communicate well

3. Moses was a responsible man.

RESPONSIBLE

Stood up for Justice

Exodus 2:11 “One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.”

He went out = to reach out

He looked on = an intentional search that accomplishes its purpose or a chance discovery

Intention: to help out and understand how to solve the burdens of his of his own people

Helped the helpless

Exodus 2:16-17 “Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.”

Action against Jethro’s daughter [Midrashim]

throw them in the water

attempted to violate them

harrassed as part of excommunication

Jethro’s daughters’ appreciation

Exodus 2:19 “They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.””

Traits for a responsible leader:

Defends the helpless and marginalized

taking up responsibility for those in need of support

serves others

DELEGATOR

Exodus 18:25 “Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”

Moses implemented a style of government involving other people in the judicial authority.

He chose men to be incharge of the rest. These men rendered decisions for public concerns. They resolved conflicts and other matters.

Traits of a good delegator:

Admits he/she can’t do it all oneself

Does not micromanage

Develops a strong team

Learns to collaborate

Good communicator

END RESULT:

Exodus 14:31 “Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”

The people put their faith in God

The people put their faith in God’s appointed leader, Moses

Effective results of leadership allow followers to have confidence in their leader

JESUS AS THE TRUE MODEL OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Humility

Philippians 2:5-7 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

2. Altruist

Matthew 20:28 “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

3. Responsible

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

4. Delegator

Matthew 28:18-19 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

MASTER GUIDES

STORY: GENERAL WASHINGTON

There was a man on horseback who saw a group of exhausted soldiers digging a trench. On the side is their section leader who was barking orders.

The passerby asked the leader why he isn’t helping his team. The leader just said that he is in charge and tells his people what to do.

The man decided to pitch in and help the soldiers dig until the trench was finished. After that, he approached the commander on foot and told him that the next time their rank prevents them from supporting his men, he should notify the top command – and that he will give a permanent solution to it.

The section leader then realized that the person he was talking to was none other than the historical figure, General Washington.