Leaders Are Human

Dear GCI Family and Friends,

Consider Moses, an abandoned Israelite baby left adrift in a basket on the Nile River. It was his mother’s successful attempt to rescue him from slaughter due to the overpopulation of his people under Egyptian rule. After 40 years of being a prince in Pharoh’s court while simultaneously watching his people suffer under the whip of Egypt, he could no longer take it. Moses murdered an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating an Israelite and then fled from Egypt to the dessert.

Another 40 years go by, and God calls Moses from a burning bush to lead his people out of slavery. God speaks through Moses and his brother Aaron to bring 10 plagues on Egypt before they relent and let the Israelites go. During the final 40 years of Moses’s life, he is representing God to the wandering Israelites who resisted God and desired to go back to Egypt. Moses successfully mentored Joshua who was able to lead a new generation across the Jordan into the Promised Land.

How about David? A shepherd boy who was the youngest of an impressive group of older brothers anointed by Samuel to be king. Then he went 15 years before ascending to the throne and spent much of that time fleeing from King Saul. He went from favor with the king and comforts of the palace to dodging spears and hiding in caves. During his reign he brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem and experienced military success and yet his life was marred with family turmoil, and the scandalous adultery with Bathsheba was a stain. Yet he was counted as a man after God’s heart, and he staged the resources for his son Solomon to build the spectacular temple to God.

Then we turn to the Jewish Rabbi Saul, who studied at the feet of renowned teacher Gamaliel. Saul was zealous for Judaism and saw the rise of Christianity as a threat to be dealt with. He led the persecution of the early church until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Saul was dramatically converted and became Paul, the chief apostle called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He suffered much for his faith and always viewed himself as the least of the apostles.