The Leadership ChallengeSample

Challenge 7

MOSES: FAILURES HAVE CONSEQUENCES

READ: Numbers 20:1–13

As we saw in earlier readings, Moses had a tough job. Who would want to lead a quarrelsome and rebellion-prone nation through a desert wilderness? Despite repeatedly witnessing God’s miraculous provision and supernatural guidance, the people grumble to Moses at every turn. This must have been immensely frustrating, but Moses endured it, and often defended the people before God. Yet even Moses had his limits. In a past encounter, Moses had been told to strike a rock to provide water for Israel (Exodus 17:1–7). Now in a similar situation, he is commanded by God to speak to the rock. But Moses gives in to anger and loses his emotional self-control. He speaks not to the rock but to the people—and then he strikes the rock. The water still comes, but the act is costly for Moses.

Although God forgives and restores, sometimes the consequences of moral and ethical failure are irreversible, affecting both our leadership and personal relationships. Some lapses will make a leader ineffective or end a leadership role altogether. According to the reading, why is God so hard on Moses for striking the rock? How will you guard your heart against such failures?