Leaders Make Things Worse

Yes, it’s really true.

Consider the example of Moses in Exodus 5:22-23: Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all."

I would guess that all of us with any experience in pastoral ministry can empathize with Moses at this point – those times when it feels like, despite our best efforts, we are just not helping at all. Sometimes it can seem that it would be better for all concerned if we quietly disappeared!

This is the peril of leadership, because leadership demands activity from people. For the Hebrews in Egypt it meant the activity of breaking free from slavery and heading for the Promised Land. Trouble was, it soon became apparent that a life of slavery – the routine of normal life – looked the easy option compared to obtaining freedom. In our context as leaders we will probably not be looking to lead hundreds of thousands of people out of one country and into another, but we do demand action: Pray! Give! Witness!

These demands (so long as they are rooted in the grace and promise of God rather than our own ego and pride) are positive in that they will result in a better future. Trouble is, the present feels pretty comfortable compared with the challenge of moving into a better future, even if that future really will be better.

This makes leadership a tough sell.

But, as Christian leaders we need to keep open ears for the voice of God, that voice that speaks as it did to Moses: But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land." (Ex 6:1) If, ultimately, God is our leader we can be confident that he will act. It is not simply that we are making life difficult for people – we are helping them step into a greater inheritance.

So let’s lead!