Misplaced Zeal
September 2nd, 2009Today’s lesson scripture finds its parrallel in Exodus 18:13-26, where Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, is credited with suggesting that Moses gather assistants to help him with the burden of leadership. The background is that the people were - once again – complaining. This time their complaint was that they had no meat and were tired of manna. They wanted to return to Egypt, where they all manner of other food to eat. Moses cried out in frustration to God – even asking that he be put to death because he was so tired and frustrated with hearing the constant whining and complaints of the people. God answered Moses, not only promising meat for the people, but instructing him on how to delegate some of this leadership responsibility to others:
24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent.
25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
26 Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.
27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28 And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!”
29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord‘s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” Num 11:24-29 (NRSV)
As seen in today’s lesson scripture, not only did God’s spirit descend on those taken into the Tent of Meeting, but to two others as well. When this was reported to Moses his lieutenant, Joshua, wanted to put a stop to it. Isn’t that sometimes the way we react today? We’re concerned that leadership, position, responsibility and status only be conferred on the select – especially if we perceive ourselves to be among those select! We forget that once we weren’t fit for leadership, that we didn’t know the ins and outs of . . . well, of whatever we become involved in: community activities, public office, church committees, school, work, you name it.
The fact is that leadership is an essential part of community. And sharing leadership is not only about easing the burden on those who – like Moses – need assistance; it’s about humility and servanthood and understanding the importance and significance of others. Isn’t that what Moses was saying to Joshua?
In my years of leadership in manufacturing businesses I have found many leaders who are afraid of giving away their knowledge and related power/authority. I have also been challenged by some “Joshua” types as to why I would give away my knowledge and authority.
I have taken an approach to teach everyone that worked for me as much as I could about what I knew. This allowed them to make more timely and informed decisions and ultimately it allowed me to progress to higher levels. The decisions by my superiors to move me up to a higher responsibility level was easy because I had trained several staff members to be able to handle all the responsibilities of my current position.
I do think that this is what Moses was saying to Joshua. Not only does leadership require humility and a servanthood approach, it also lets the others know how significant they are to the whole process. In this case….spreading the Gospel.