Moses, 9 Lessons in Leadership

Let's learn from the life of Moses and his interactions with God. Discover nine leadership lessons that God desires for us to learn as we lead his people.

Man of Faith

• It began with the faith of Moses' parents, Amram and Jochebed. Hebrews 11:23.
• By faith Moses rejected his privileged upbringing and chose to align himself with the God of the slaves and the slaves themselves. Hebrews 11:24-26.
• Moses' faith produced courage… courage to obey God during the ten plagues, courage to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. Hebrews 11:27-28.
• Moses put himself and all of the Israelites in a position of needing God's breakthrough (surrounded by Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea). Hebrews 11:29.
• Application
  • Do you enjoy living for your five senses more than what you cannot see? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
  • Do you recognize an area of your life where God is calling you to walk by faith… to take the risk? What will you do?

Man of Meekness

• Numbers 12:3 - Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
• Moses had to learn meekness - submission to God's will that produces humility, confidence and perseverance under pressure.
• Perhaps Moses learned meekness during his forty years in Midian (needed forty years training to undo forty years of training in the pride of the Egyptian culture).
• Exodus 3-4 - God calls Moses to go back to Egypt and set the Israelites free. Moses has an inferiority complex. This is NOT meekness.
  • God was angry with Moses' response of unbelief. Exodus 4:14.
• When significant people opposed him, Moses responded with meekness.
  • Exodus 6-12 - the ten plagues in Egypt - Moses held steady in the face of constant rejection by Pharaoh.
  • When the people of Israel cried out in complaint against Moses, he held firm in his faith, pointing the people to God. Exodus 14:13-14.
  • When Miriam and Aaron opposed Moses, he allowed God to defend himself. He even prayed for Miriam's healing. Numbers 12:1-15.
  • When Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebelled against Moses (falsely accusing him), he allowed God to defend himself. He recognized the accusation as against the Lord not himself. Numbers 16:11.
• Application
  • Would you consider yourself as a "meek" person? Why or why not?
  • God really values meekness. What would be the most significant step for you in becoming more meek?

Man of Worship

• Exodus 15:1 - Moses sang a song to the Lord after walking through the Red Sea. He led the Israelites in worship.
• Exodus 34:8 - After the personal revelation of God on Mt. Sinai, Moses worshipped… a fitting response.
• Deuteronomy 31:19 - Moses taught Israel a song about the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.
• Psalm 90
• Application
  • Are you a worship leader, or do you wait for others more "qualified" to lead?

Man of Dependence

• Exodus 15:25 - Moses cried to the Lord when the Israelites grumbled against him.
• Exodus 17:4 - Again Moses cried to the Lord when the Israelites grumbled about being thirsty.
• Exodus 17:11 - Moses depended on God for victory over Amalek. He held up his hands as God provided the victory.
• Exodus 18:24 - Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and delegated leadership responsibility throughout Israel.
• Application:
  • In what area of life are you most prone to act independently?
  • How dependent are you on your leaders? How can you show your dependence on them?

Man of Support-Raising

• Exodus 25:1-2 - God called Moses to raise finances for the construction of the tabernacle.
• Exodus 36:2-7 - Moses raised all the necessary resources to build the tabernacle. So much resource was coming in that Moses had to tell them to stop.
  • Total Gold Value (U.S. Dollar) $37,376,486.88
  • Total Silver Value (U.S. Dollar) $1,751,465.33

From <https://www.quora.com/How-much-would-the-tabernacle-described-in-the-Old-Testament-cost-to-build-today-2015>

• Application
  • Are you willing to raise finances for God's work?
  • Do you have a prayer and action strategy to do this?

Man of Anger

• Bible references
  • Exodus 2:11-12; 11:8; 16:20; 32:19
  • Leviticus 10:6, 16
  • Numbers 16:15; 20:10-12; 31:14
• Specific highlights
  • Exodus 2:11-12 - Moses' anger leads to murder and exile to Midian.
  • Exodus 32:19 - Moses becomes angry at the Israelites idolatry and breaks the stone tablets that God wrote the 10 Commandments on. God responds - Exo. 34:1 - Moses needed to cut out two new stone tablets for God to write on.
  • Numbers 20:10-12 - Moses rebels against God and in his anger strikes the rock to provide the Israelites with water. God responds - Moses cannot enter the Promised Land.
• Other references of anger in the Bible
  • God gets angry over sin: idolatry (Exodus 32:10), religion (Mark 3:5), lack of submission to leaders (Numbers 12:9), and blocking people from his presence (Mark 11:15-17).
    • In his anger, God always does the right thing. He feels deeply and always makes the right choice. So can you! Ephesians 4:26.
  • James 1:19-20 - Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
  • Ephesians 4:31 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
  • Colossians 3:21 - Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
  • Proverbs 27:4 - Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
  • Proverbs 30:33 - For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.
• Application
  • What can you lose by getting angry?
  • What is God saying to you about anger?

Man of Intercession

• Exodus 33:12-16 - After the Israelites worshipped the golden calf, God was angry and said that he would not go with them to the Promised Land. And then he said he was deciding what to do…. Moses then interceded on behalf of the Israelites.
• Exodus 33:17 - God said that he would do what Moses asked. It seems that the basis of Moses' successful intercession was that he pleased God, and that God knew him by name.
• Numbers 12:13 - Moses intercedes on behalf of Miriam (who rebelled against Moses' leadership).
• Numbers 14:19 - At the edge of the Promised Land, Moses intercedes on behalf of the Israelites who do not want to go into the land.
• Numbers 16:22 - Moses intercedes on behalf of all the people during Korah, Dathan and Abiram's rebellion.
• Numbers 16:46 - Moses makes atonement for the Israelites (5th time of intercession)
• Application
  • Would you ask God to share his feelings / heart with you? What will you do once you receive this?
  • Would you intercede for a person or people that need God's intervention?

Man of Intimacy with God

• Exodus 3:3-6 - God reveals his power, holiness and name to Moses for the first time. Moses hid his face.
• Exodus 33:9-11 - The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
• Exodus 33:17 - Moses found favor with God, and God knew his name. This means that Moses and God were close. Furthermore, God was about to reveal his own name to Moses.
• Exodus 33:18 - After all the wonders that Moses had seen from God, he still wanted more. He asked to see God's glory. Remember, he had already seen the God of Israel (Exodus 24:9-11). But, Moses wanted more. He wanted an even more intimate relationship with God.
• Exodus 33:19-23; 34:5-7 - God responds and shows Moses his back end, as well as revealing his name to Moses. Again, this is a sign of great closeness between God and Moses.
• Application
  • Be bold. Ask God for a more intimate encounter with himself.
  • Learn some of the names of God. Use them in your prayer life.

Man of Obedience

• Moses ultimately went back to Egypt (after much complaining) to set the Israelites free. Exodus 5:1.
• Moses obeyed each of God's commands regarding the ten plagues in Egypt. Exodus 7:1-12:32.
• Moses obeyed God's instructions in the parting of the Red Sea. Exodus 14:21.
• Moses obeyed God's instructions in giving the people water and food.
• Moses obeyed God's instructions in gathering resources and building the tabernacle.
• Moses obeyed God's instructions for the Israelites to go back to the wilderness for forty years after they rebelled at the edge of the Promised Land.
• Moses obeyed God's instructions in appointing a new leader in Joshua.
• Moses obeyed God's instructions in writing down and teaching the whole law to the people.
• Application
  • Moses was a man of obedience. He was zealous for God's holiness. How wholehearted are you in obedience?
  • Is there an instruction that God has given you that you have put "on hold"? Have you forgotten what he has told you? Take a moment to ask God if there are any outstanding instructions that God has spoken, but you have not done. Now, make the obedience step.