Learning From the Leadership of Moses
INTRO: How good of an example for us today is Moses. Can we be the leader Moses was? I ask myself, can I be close to what Moses was? What are we lacking that he had. Do we worry more about what the Pharoahs, Dothans, Korahs, Aarons, and so forth are saying?????? Are we too busy being what we are that we are not the leaders God wants us to be? Can we be the Man of God that God needs from us???? Is it important that we show the attributes Moses had? Are others looking at us to find and example like Moses?
First let us see the…
Personal deficiencies of Moses - oh yeah we are not all perfect
Great excuse maker: Ex 3:11; Ex 4:1; Ex 4:10; Ex 4:13
Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Exodus 4:13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
Unimportant – "Who am I?" - 3:11
Doubted people would hear him- 4:1
Not eloquent – slow of speech and slow of tongue- 4:10
In need of someone better to help him (Aaron) - 4:13
Only Human (by his actions)
Unable to last – Ex. 18:13-23 Jethro advises
Exodus 18:13 - 23 13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
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And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?15
And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:16
When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.17
And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.18
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.19
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:20
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:22
And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.23
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.Lost his temper , and broke the Stone Tables – Ex. 32:19
Became discouraged under a heavy burden – Nu. 11:10-15
Numbers 11:10 - 15 10Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
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And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?12
Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?13
Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.14
I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.15
And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.If God gave each of the solders a QUARTER POUNDER = 75 tons
In pride he smote the rock – disobeyed God - Nu. 20:7-13
Numbers 20:7 - 13 7And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.9
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.10
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?11
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.12
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.13
This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.This begs the question: Do we not all fall short?
Next we see…
Potential for greatness in Moses
Chosen of God
Protected by God
Readied by God (good education)
Called by God (burning bush)
Helped by God
Do we see our potential?
This begs more questions: What does God want in your life? And, can He help you accomplish them?
Last I want to look at the…
Positive actions and greatness of Moses showed – He Loved His Flock
He was strong for God
Hebrews 11:23-29 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
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By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;25
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.27
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.28
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.29
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.He followed his faith
He wanted to be with God’s people –
He knew God (face to face) – Deut. 34:10
Deuteronomy 34:10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
He was able to lead and encourage others to excel – Aaron and Hur - the Amalekites
He passed on God’s greatness - Joshua 1:1-10
Joshua 1:1 - 10 1Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
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Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.3
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.4
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.5
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.6
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.7
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.10
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,He was soft for His flock
He hurt when they hurt ( didn’t rejoice in their mistakes)
He stood against sin and opposition (Korah, Dathan, and Abiram) Nu. 16
Numbers 16:
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Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:2
And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:3
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?4
And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:15
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.20
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,21
Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.22
And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?28
And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.45
Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.46
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.47
And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.48
And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.49
Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.50
And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.He prayed – vs. 4
He was sincere (no payment nor abuse) vs. 15
He had faith in God - 28
He sought their protection
He stood up for them – even to God
He offered himself in their stead - Ex. 32.32
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
He Loved his "FLOCK"
Reading from NKJV:
1 Corinthians 13:1 - 13
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Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body £to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.4
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;5
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;6
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;7
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.9
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.10
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.13
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.This raises another question: Do we care for God and His people?
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 102906am -first used 071798 Conference