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Men of the Old Testament: Moses - Numbers 20  The whole point of being an ambassador is to represent your country and your country’s ruler to a foreign nation. Generally the ambassador is the highest ranking government representative stationed in a foreign nation’s capital. Usually, the host country will allow the ambassador to control an embassy, whose territory and staff are typically given diplomatic immunity in that country. Ambassadors can be recalled to their native country due to diplomatic impasses, wars, political statements, or even due to their actions embarrassing their native country. In March of 2007, the Israeli ambassador to El Salvador was recalled to Israel. He was not recalled because there were problems between his homeland and his host country. He was recalled because according to the newspaper story of the incidence he was found on the streets of El Salvador’s capitol drunk, naked, and tied up. Due to the shame that his conduct brought on Israel, the Israeli government recalled him to Israel to be replaced by someone who hopefully would not be found in such compromising circumstances. To Old Testament Israel Moses functioned as something of God ambassador to them. New Testament believers are all blessed with the Holy Spirit, a complete Bible to read, and an overload of books and sermons to help them follow God; the Hebrews who traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land had only God’s word spoken through Moses. They built a tabernacle and made sacrifices because that was what God told Moses to lead the people to do. They crossed the Red Sea on dry land because Moses, at God’s direction, held his hands outstretched. The words and actions of Moses were a direct reflection on God. What Moses did communicated the character of God to the people, for both good and bad. This is why Moses’ failure in Numbers 20 meets with such severe punishment from God. Instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded, he struck the rock – twice. The people’s complaints had driven Moses’ insane, but God still had much patience and grace for His chosen people. As the study notes of the NET Bible put it, “He was supposed to have acted in a way that would have shown God to be distinct, different, holy. Instead, he gave the impression that God was capricious and hostile – very human. The leader has to be aware of what image he is conveying to the people.” If there was ever a convicting passage for husbands, fathers, bosses, supervisors, and anyone in any form of leadership this is it. Each of us functions as God’s ambassador for those we lead, similar to the way that Moses did for Israel. When we lost our temper, or react without patience, we tell those we lead that God is the same way. If we lead people through threats and manipulations we communicate to those we are trying to lead that that is how God functions as well. Anyone who claims to be a child of God has a responsibility to lead in a way that would honor and glorify God; otherwise we misrepresent who God is. Questions for Discussion/Reflection 1. Where are you a leader that people look up to and follow? 2. In what areas do you struggle to reflect God in your leadership? 3. How does our culture view grace and patience in leadership? How does that differ from Scripture? Further Study on Moses Bible Dictionary Entries on Moses Bible.org Study on the Life of Moses Staff Writer: Aaron Sharp |
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