Stillness in Leading Rebels (Lent 21-2014)

Herding cats is a good image for how Moses must have viewed his function in leading the Israelites.  They resisted his leading them.  They went their own way at every opportunity.  They didn’t listen to what he said.  They promised to obey and then promptly did what they wanted instead.  They forgot any allegiance to him or to God.  Their independence and finicky nature caused them to be grouchy and picky eaters.

To make matters more difficult, he was outnumbered. Yet, he was place in leadership over them and told to lead them.

Exodus 17:1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The LORD answered Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

At times, leadership is a seemingly impossible task. 

But we can be still in those times knowing what it says in Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said,

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Be Still.  I put you in leadership and I’m prepared to bring you through it.

Be Still.  Leadership is a privilege and a gift.  I gave you both.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I specialize in the impossible.  Your testimony will shine when you are still even while others who don’t know Me would panic.

Questions for reflection:

1. What task seems impossible today?
2. How can God minister to you when life seems out of control and you feel outnumbered by the rebels you’ve been called to lead?
3. How does a testimony shine more as a genuine Christian is squeezed?