Loving Leaders -- February 1, 2009

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” But he said: “It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear.”
Exodus 32:17-18

This passage shows the difference between mature spiritual based leaders and well-intentioned undeveloped leaders who are still too dependent on earthly information. Joshua was a faithful servant to Moses. He would continue by Moses’ side until the day came when he would be the leader of the nation. However, at this time he was still finding out how to hear from God. Joshua was a close as he could get to the spiritual revelation of his day but his position, calling, and anointing came up short of an accurate interpretation of the events unfolding around him.

Moses trained to be a prince in Egypt. He could read, write, and had even lead men into to battle. His life experience after that was one of hard work herding his father-in-law’s flocks. Joshua had been a slave for his entire life. Moses’ superior training or life experience didn’t allow him correct perception of what the people were doing; it was that the Lord had told him.

The senior leader always has the advantage of position and anointing. I have worked under others in the kingdom and found this to be true. As the second, third, fourth, etc. in leadership it seemed no matter how hard I worked to be on top of things, to be in touch, and get out in front of the issues those in God-given leadership were already there. HE had already told them. It didn’t seem fair. I was following Him as close as I could. Reading my Bible, praying faithfully and fulfilling the duties of my position, yet it seemed the leader was always one up on me. It seemed that way because God was informing them so they could lead. If the leader is faithfully fulfilling their duties (and sometimes even when they don’t) God gives them the direction for the group. How else could they lead?

Brothers and sisters, let me encourage to trust God in leadership. We can only trust men so far. That means we have to trust He is leading them as long as leadership is not obviously walking against God. The leader has the advantage of perspective from a different place than us. This is not a call for blind, unquestioning obedience, but it is a call to accept that those positioned in leadership see differently than us. It is a call for patience while we struggle through to unity in our faith policies.


Trusting Him Not “Them”,

Pastor Jason