Two Men Called to Lead

Aaron was set apart by God to serve as the high priest for Israel. It was his privilege to represent the people before God and offer the sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. But when his first opportunity to lead the people away from idolatry and paganism comes, He fails miserably. In Exodus 32 Moses has been on the Mountain with God for forty days and forty nights (Exodus 24.18). In his absence the people probably grew restless and begin to think he might not be coming back.

They go to Aaron and ask him to make them a god to go before them. And Aaron makes them a golden calf. And it doesn't end there. He declares the calf to be God, and then organizes a feast and then offers sacrifices to the idol. Aaron, the man chosen by God to serve as the nations first high priest, begins his career by leading the people into sin and idolatry. And when Moses confronts him about it, he lies and makes excuses for his actions.

I wonder at Aaron's relationship with God. He had been sent by God in the beginning to be the spokesman in Egypt (Exodus 4.14-16). He had seen the power of God first hand. He had proclaimed each plague to Pharaoh, and had stood next to Moses during all of it. And yet in Moses' absence he leads the people away from God. Had it been the pressure of the people? There were over a million of them. Was he just not bold enough to stand up to them on his own? He had stood up before Pharaoh, one of the most powerful men in the world, and told him that God commanded the people to be let go. Or maybe he was living off of Moses' faith, and didn't know what to do without Him there.

I think the last one is correct. It is impossible to lead people to God without a relationship with God. It is crucial to develop a personal relationship with God, because "Moses" won't always be there. If our faith in God is not our own, then we can't stand up to the pressure that calls us into idolatry. Faith is personal or its fake. And without it, it's impossible to lead.

Enter Joshua. In Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, he is acting as Moses' servant. He is the general who leads the people in battle, and he is one of the spies sent into the Promised Land, and one of two that has the faith in God to take the land. The sixth book of the Bible is named for him, and after his death in Judges 2, he largely disappears from Scripture. I have only found four more times in the Bible where his name is mentioned.

Joshua was the man chosen by God to follow Moses as the leader of Israel. He is the one who lead the conquest of Canaan and took it back for Israel. In the beginning God made Him a promise,

"Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1.2-9).

Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. He is commanded to be strong and courageous, to follow God and meditate on the words of God. And God promises to be with him wherever he goes. God could be because Joshua knew God. In Exodus 33.11 it says this, "Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent." When Moses left the tent of meeting with God Joshua stayed. More than forty years before he would lead Israel he is spending one-on-one time in the presence of God.

Joshua didn't live or lead off of Moses' faith or Moses' relationship with God, he had his own. Joshua knew God, he had spent time with Him. Joshua faithfully lead the people and at the end of his life declared "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24.14-15). He tells the people that they must decide who they will follow. Each of us must make a decision who we will follow.

Joshua could make that declaration because he had made a practice of it for his whole life. Joshua could lead like Moses because he knew the God Moses knew. Joshua had a personal relationship with God that came from knowing God, from spending time with God.

To all men, we are called to lead. What kind of leader will you be? Aaron, who lead off of the strength and name of another; or Joshua, who lead from a relationship with the same God as a great leader? Will you be a leader who when alone caves under pressure and demands, or who can lead an army and take possession of God's promise? To be the leader your heart desires to be, you must know God. He must be a priority in your life. We must devote ourselves to time with Him. We must make the declaration that we, and those we lead, will serve the Lord.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you