Humble Leadership

September 29, 2017

DAILY READING

Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16

Numbers 20:1-13

Acts 13:32-41

This week’s sermon text: Romans 7:14-25

FIELD NOTES

In the book of Exodus, God had instructed Moses to use his staff to part the Nile and again to us his staff to initiate a flow of water from the rock at Horeb. Now 40 years later in the book of Numbers, we find Moses interacting with a tired, rebellious, and disgruntled Israel. The Israelites came to Moses and Aaron with many grievances and God told them “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and command the rock before their eyes to yield its water. Thus you shall bring water out of the rock for them; thus you shall provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

God tells Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses’ frustration and anger over the people’s disobedience over the last 40 years caught up with him. He instead responds with disobedience. In verses 10b-11, “Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.”

The people still got what they needed, but their leader displayed a lack of trust in God and offended God’s holiness through his rash response. Has your own pent up frustration ever caused you to respond with disobedience and a lack of trust in God?

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• When those around you grumble and complain, how do you respond? How can you be a light in the darkness when people bring you frustrations?
• When have you struggled with leading others well? Has being impatient ever affected your leadership?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• What does it mean to be disobedient? What are some examples of disobedience that you’ve seen this week?
• What do you think it means to trust God?

Prayer Guide

God of power, I thank you for choosing to work through your people to accomplish your work. I confess that I do not always obey your instructions and sometimes struggle with my own calling. Help me to grow in leadership and patience as I seek to do your will. Amen.