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Moses said to the Lord, “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
Numbers 27:15-17 NIV

As I studied the book of Numbers, I was impressed with the responsibilities of Moses’ job as the Israelite’s leader. Right from the start, he had trouble with the people. They didn’t want to follow his leading; it seemed easier to stay where they were in life.

Moses earnestly sought God and God showed Himself to Moses like none other. In Numbers 12:3 we read that Moses was the most humble man ever. He set out to deliver people who had been in bondage for so long and they fought him most of the way. God performed miracle after miracle to help them escape and to show them His might. Time after time the people lost their faith, fell to fear, then grumbled and complained about their circumstances. Moses pressed on, even pleading with God to forgive their lack of faith.

I don’t know if it is because I am human or if it is because I am female, but I sure don’t like to be taken for granted. As I read through Numbers, I saw that Moses was unappreciated. So when he fell short of the mark, when he struck the rock to get water and basically took all the credit for rather than honoring God as holy, it didn’t seem like all that big of a fall. But to God, it was a huge deal. God said, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” It seems unreasonable that God would give him such harsh punishment.

Our flesh tries to weigh things out and decide what is fair. We seem to put all of the good things on one side of the scale and the bad things on the other side. From what we read about Moses, the good far outweighs the bad, so he should be in… right? This one dishonoring act that demonstrated his lack of trust in God was enough for God to make a statement. Wow! I don’t think I would have taken it as easily as Moses did. I would have been tempted to negotiate with God. If that didn’t work, I probably would have tried to stack the scales where I looked good. When that didn’t produce the results I wanted, I would have become just like all of the other Israelites… I would grumble and complain.

In chapter 27 when God tells Moses to climb the mountain and take a good look at the Promised Land and then die on that mountain top, Moses sees the Land he will never enter… the Land that he has labored and sacrificially given his life up for to lead an ungrateful people to. Moses had to have had some human feelings, but the only thing recorded is, “Moses said to the Lord, ’May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’” When it could feel like he was getting the shaft, he chose not to fall to those feelings. His desire was for the peoples’ well being. What a testimony of leadership!

When I stop and think about it, that is exactly what Jesus did - our perfect example… loving others above self. Moses gave his life for the people and they were ungrateful.

Lord, forgive me for the times I have been ungrateful to you and to the servants you have appointed to lead me. – Amen

Written by
Liz Anderson