Daily Devotion

August 14, 2006

Psalms 106:32-33 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Leadership is a heavy crown. Never does the old adage, “others may, but you cannot” ring truer than when we are called to such a position. People look up to their leaders so whether they like it or not, in a bi-product sort of way, they become teachers. People learn more by what they see than by what they hear; therefore the example of the leader they see has to correspond with the example of the leader they hear.  

God had so blessed Moses; in the eyes of the children of Israel, he was the very representation of God; the closest thing to God Himself. Moses was also the mediator between God and the people. After the many miracles of protection and supply God had already performed for them, the people of Israel complained again, wondering if they were going to die of thirst. God asked Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses smote the rock twice and offered it to the people in an angry fashion (Numbers 20:3-13). As a representative of God, Moses couldn’t indulge in giving in to his own anger. God had to make him an example to become a reference point for generations to come for all his spiritual leaders, teachers, and parents.

God had mercy on the people, compassion on their unbelief, but Moses got frustrated with them. God showed a similar amount of mercy and compassion on the whole world in sin and rebellion, by sending His Son Jesus Christ, in a spirit of true mercy and compassion to take our sin for us.

Every one of us, whether we like it or not, has a spiritual responsibility to others, if only by living our life in way that encapsulates the God we claim to represent. We are responsible to the world, but most especially to our friends, to our co-workers, to our spouses, and to our children.

As the moon reflects the light of the sun to the earth in the night sky, may God help us to effectively reflect the light of God’s mercy and compassion to everyone we meet in this dark hour of the world.

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Patrick Lumbroso
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