Monday, February 18, 2013

Respect For Leadership

Numbers 12:1-16

We may not always agree with the style or effectiveness or even the sincerity of those in leadership positions over us. There is nothing wrong with a difference of opinion, but one thing we must always do is respect that person's position. This is especially true if God puts them in that place. In this passage, we see very clearly why that is the case.

God has been around for a while, so he knows a few things about the world, life and anything else you might imagine. So when he puts people in charge of his children, we can rest assured that he has a purpose for it. That purpose may be to show us how not to live or behave, or how we used to be, or where we need to be. But there is no room for doubt that there is, indeed, a purpose and we should do all that we can under that leadership to glean from it what we can to help us grow.

When we try to buck the system and complain and antagonize and otherwise disrespect our leaders, then we are stepping outside the will of God and damaging the reflection of his character in our lives. That is what Miriam and Aaron did when they began to murmur and complain against Moses out of their own jealousy (recall Commandment 10; Exodus 20: 17). They didn't just come out and say what was on their minds, though. That might have lead to a reasonable resolution of their issues. Instead, they became nit picky, and petty - criticizing his Cushite wife.

But God heard them, I'm guessing from the inside out, and called the three of them together to get down to the real deal with them. He told Miriam and Aaron all about themselves and how wrong they were for speaking ill of their brother and leader; certainly after all that he had been through in getting them to the point at which they were. Then, since she was apparently the ring-leader, he struck Miriam with leprosy, forcing her out of the camp for seven days until she could be purified and return.

At the sight of that, of course, Aaron turned to Moses for help. Despite the backbiting they had just been caught committing against him, Moses pleaded with God for her instant healing. He may have had compassion because she was his sister, after all. Or, he may have just been that humble and forgiving. However, for whatever reason Moses interceded for Miriam, God was not satisfied with it. She had to learn the lesson and be the example for others.

It doesn't matter how great you think you are or how close you are to your leaders or their abilities, unless God gives you the assignment, it is not yours to have and you have no business trying to take over. Their are serious consequences for disrespecting God's chosen because that is effectively the same thing as disrespecting God. Even if you know for a fact that you are more intelligent or nicer or more talented or qualified than those set above you, your job remains to do the very best you can at your assignment and allow God to use you where you are. Otherwise, you may be removed from that place until you have been humbled and can get a better understanding of the big picture.

Lord, please help us to remain humble before you and the leaders you appoint over us. Help us to understand that whatever role we play is vital and relevant. Remind us, when we get too haughty, that every ability we have comes from you and we should be grateful. Please forgive us, Lord, for any sins we may have committed against you or our leaders. Help us to remain supportive of your will as you have given it to our leaders, and do our part to bring your vision to fruition. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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