Today’s Reading, Numbers 16-17
Focal Scripture: Numbers 16:2 “two hundred fifty prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses.”
Being in leadership is difficult. It is not difficult because of the decisions you have to make, it is difficult because of the people you are trying to lead. In many situations you will have people in your sphere of influence that will do anything to rebel against being lead. I have seen it happen in sports and in church. When good leadership and standards are instituted people will find a way to fight against these truths. I even had a person tell me once that I was to much of a rule follower and I needed to stop doing things the right way. This leader did not have biblical standards and led they by force not by love.
In today’s reading a few men stirred up a descent in the Israelite community. They got 250 prominent men in Israel to agree with their desire to overthrow godly leaders. It could be at least a little understandable if Moses was mean, rude, or even tried to spiritually abuse them. However, none of that was happening to them. They were just unhappy with being lead and they wanted control of everything.
I have come to this conclusion in life, that when opposition happens everyone plays a role. I was in a position not long ago where the leader and leadership did not have a standard of right and wrong. I have examined my role in that situation and the falling out that happened. Given all that happened, I would make all of the decisions the same way again, except for one. I would have been more forceful and transparent with everyone about what was really happening behind closed doors. In an effort to protect people, I actually ended up causing more damage, because now nobody knows the truth about the leadership debacle.
I tell this story because sometimes rebelling against leadership is good and biblical. However, most people don’t rebel over what is good, they rebel because things do not go their way. I challenge you today to examine the heart of your rebellion of leadership. Are you rebelling because it needs to happen? Or are you rebelling because of pride and sin?
This can be a very fine line and at times one that is hard to determine. Opposition to leadership can be unbiblical like it was with Moses and Aaron, or it could be justified like in my situation. Either way ramifications will abound for that decision. You will either be found guilty of sin before the Lord or you will have to bear the burden of making the right decision when nobody else will.
I do encourage you to be very transparent in your opposition. Learn from my mistake and be honest behind your decisions. Why? Because silence in the desire for peace, can actually hurt more people than the truth spoken in love. Oppose leadership when needed but do it for the Lord and not yourself.
Tomorrow, I plan reading Numbers 18-20
