More Leadership in Numbers

In my last post, I wrote about my study in the Book of Numbers.  I love this stuff!  Let me reflect a little more about some leadership principles from Moses and the people as they spent time in the wilderness.

“Now the people complained about their hardship in hearing the Lord” (Numbers 11:1).   What?  Moses was hearing just fine. And all the people really had to do was watch the cloud over the tabernacle – right?  The pillar of cloud moved by day and fire by night.  So their only real job was to “watch.”  But they seem to be expressing some jealousy that Moses is the only guy “hearing God.”  They want a piece of the action.

And so for the first time since entering the wilderness, God’s anger was aroused.

The narrative moves on saying, “The rabble with them began to crave other food.”  I wonder who ‘the rabble’ were?  Just the grumblers?  Or trouble-makers?  And it now appears that their concerns have moved from their ears to their stomachs!  And something interesting happens next.

God is so angry with the people that Moses seems to snap.  Moses asks God, “Why have you brought this trouble to your servant?  What have I done to displease you that you put this burden of all the people on me?” (11:4).

Isn’t this interesting?  People grumble and Moses feels the burden.  I can truly relate to this.  But when it is Moses, I can easily say, “that is not your burden Mo’.  Give it back to God who is leading you!”  People grumbling can always be stressful times for leaders. But in this case, and many such similar times, the people are grumbling against God more than they are the leader.

It is amazing to see God’s response.  His solution for Moses is a mighty one.  He asks Moses to bring 70 elders to Him.  And at the tent of meeting God meets those leaders.  He spread the “spirit that was on Moses onto them” (11:16).  And here is the powerful phrase, “they will help you carry the burden of the people, so that you will not have to carry it alone.”

And so God spreads out the leadership gift but also the leadership “burden.”  Perhaps this is one of the chief reasons God saw fit for each church to have a multiplicity of elders and pastors?  The burden can become too much for the leader who has not learned to share and give away some of the responsibility.

If you are a leader (especially in a church) not doubt at some time you will feel that people are unhappy about something.  It is great to ask, “Is this a burden God wants me to feel or one that He solely wishes to handle?”  And it is also good to take advantage of the other leaders around you.  Solicit them to prayer.  Listen to them carefully.  Make sure that you use the tools God has provided.