by Rodney Plunket
In exploring the biblical narrative of Exodus, we uncover a thought-provoking pattern of the Israelites’ wavering faith in their leaders, Moses and Aaron, as they journey through the desert. This pattern serves as a powerful example of the dynamics of leadership and followership within a church family. Through a careful examination of key passages, we gain valuable insights into the complexities of trust, obedience, and accountability in the context of spiritual leadership.
In Exodus chapter 4, Moses and Aaron tell the enslaved Israelites the Lord is going to deliver them. The Israelites believe, bow down and worship the Lord. But Pharaoh is not having it. Instead, he increases their workload.
In response, the Israelite supervisors indict Moses and Aaron with these words: “The Lord look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his officials, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us” (Ex. 5:21). Moses and Aaron have only done what the Lord commanded; the indictment is invalid.
In Exodus chapter 16, the people want food. They direct this complaint at Moses and Aaron, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this desert to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Notice, Israel believes by staying in Egypt they would have been well fed and would have died by the hand of the Lord. Instead, they now believe they are going to be killed in the desert by starvation because they followed Moses and Aaron. Who brought the Israelites into the desert? The reader knows the Lord did that.
Academic research and fifty-two years of ministry converge. When the people of God believe they are being led by humans instead of the Lord, they feel empowered to complain, criticize, rebel, be divisive, etc.
It is essential we help church leaders seek, find and follow, with humble assurance, the will of God. It is equally essential to teach congregations to recognize, encourage and affirm their leaders’ openness and hunger for God’s vision, God’s mission, God’s path forward!
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