Leadership Lessons from Moses, Stoners, and the Desert

I was reading in Numbers 14, and found an amazing passage for us as youth pastors and leaders.  Check this out:

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.
9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” 10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?
12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.” 13 Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.14 And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.15 If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations who have heard this report about you will say,
16 ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ 17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared:18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’
19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” 

Did you catch the story?  Moses and Aaron tell the people God's words and truth, and the people decide to kill them.  They don't want to hear the truth, so they decide to kill them.  I know from time to time we as leaders face tough times, especially in working with students.  Often we pour our hearts into our students and parents, and instead of listening to God's call for them, they become angry and turn it back on us.  It's enough to make us want to quit.

But look at Moses response.  He prays for the very ones wanting to kill him.  He begs God to save THEIR lives.  He doesn't pray for himself, he prays for them.  


May this be our response when we face challenges and those wanting to crucify us over them.  May we lead like Moses.


And Jesus.