Wednesday: Moses, Godly Leader
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 6th of May 2026
Although Enoch clearly had a very close relationship with God, we have more insight into Moses’ relationship with God and can even read numerous accounts of Moses’ conversations with Him. As we journey with Moses through the ups and downs of this humble leader’s life, we see time and time again that the single most important part of his life and the secret to his success as a godly leader was his constant communication and abiding relationship with God.
Read Exodus 33:15-23. What is the content and the manner of the conversation between Moses and the Lord?
Imagine what it would have been like to speak with God and hear His voice so plainly. It’s a wonder the Israelites didn’t seek this kind of communion with God themselves instead of begging Moses to speak to them on God’s behalf (Exodus 20:18-21). Yet, God had prepared Moses for this, beginning with their interaction at the burning bush, on this very same mountain. Although we read of other personal prayers of Moses, we see that he’s almost continually in God’s presence, asking for guidance and interceding for the people he is leading.
On two occasions, Moses intercedes for family members. What situations surrounded his intercession, and what would have happened had he not stepped in to bridge the gap?
• Aaron: Exodus 32:1-14,31-34; Deuteronomy 9:20
• Miriam: Numbers 12:13
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
What is particularly amazing about the interaction with Miriam is that Moses was the recipient of her poor treatment and jealousy. He could easily have stood back and let God deliver the punishment Miriam and Aaron deserved. Instead, he was quick to forgive and intercede for his sister’s healing. What a powerful reflection of God’s forgiving grace for sinners is seen here in the actions of Moses.
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Read Matthew 5:44 and Colossians 3:13. How can you learn to do what you’re told here? Why is it important that you do? |
I like to read the story of Moses because here is a leader who had direct contact with God but also made serious mistakes. He murdered an Egyptian, overworked as a leader, took advice from his father-in-law, put up with sibling rivalry, got angry with his people, and disobeyed God, It is his imperfections that give people like me hope. And in spite of all the whinging and criticism from the Israelites, when it came to the crunch, he was willing to give up salvation for them.
His most notable prayers are when he was praying to God to spare the children of Israel, and it begs the question, “Who do we pray for and why do we pray for them?” And, implicit in any such prayer, is also the question, “What do we need to change in our own lives to be an agent for God in the lives of others?”
It is also a reminder that prayer is not an end in itself. We do not live in a monastery but in a community. And our prayer life should be the springboard for our interaction with others.
I am reminded of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Much of the recorded prayer is for others, his disciples in particular, who were witnesses to the events of the crucifixion. But he also included those who were not witnesses but would hear about it in the future. Jesus, like Moses, prayed for his community both current and in the future. That means his prayer was for us, 2000 years later.
I have prayed for 3 years over the same things but nothing is changing am extremely frustrated, now I just got used to praying without getting an answer, In my life God is silent
I think Job had that problem during his affliction and when he finally got an answer from God, he essentially said, “Trust me!” Some of us think that is a non-answer. And I know sometimes I find that I am God-deaf at times. Usually it is because has not answered my prayer in the way I thought he should.
The world is full of leadership advice, with simple online searches resulting in endless resources ranging from TED Talks, TikTok, and YouTube, among others. Apparently, the advice the world gives is much different from the advice the Lord gives. The Scriptures teach that the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God, and God’s wisdom seems to be foolish to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18–25). The Bible says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Moses learnt this, and he wasn’t a jealous leader like many leaders today. Moses didn’t cling to power; he wasn’t afraid of the success of others, nor did he use his position to hold gifted people down. In fact, Moses was a leader who rejoiced in the accomplishments of other leaders, even those in his own congregation. “And a young man ran and told Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them.’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake?’”
Moses knew that focusing on his weaknesses would only leave him perplexed for nothing. He knew his present was a wilderness, especially after fleeing Egypt. Moses spent about four decades in Midian tending sheep, bewildered about his calling. He endured utter perplexity, day in and day out, living a life dominated by confusion. In such a situation, he must have felt forgotten and abandoned by God. Yet even in the wilderness, in a daily life that seemed barely tolerable, God met him in his ordinary chores. God can manifest Himself in something as simple as a tiny bush—just as He did for Moses. His presence transformed Moses’ current circumstances.
When Moses understood his calling and who God he knew that being in His presence was the right place to be, he was willing to endure mistreatment with God’s people in order to accomplish God’s will. Moses’ attitude when it came to leading and serving the people he was called to lead was different. At one point, he even prayed that he would be removed from the book of God so that the people’s sins could be forgiven (Exodus 32:32). He cared so much about them that he was willing to suffer for them.
God led leadership endures longer and the fruits of it can be sustained indefinitely. Today we are taking lessons from a leader that lived millenia ago.
Moses, as a mediator between God and the Children, made fervent intercessory and bold prayers. In the wilderness, when the Children of Israel turned to idolatry, and God wanted to wipe them out, Moses pleaded (actually argued) with God to have mercy on the stiff-necked people. Moses boldly told God, “blot me out of your book” instead of destroying the people (Exodus 32). This was a great self-sacrificial prayer, perhaps never prayed by any human being other than Jesus. Moses was a hero. He was a great intercessor, pleading with God on behalf of his people. He interceded for his brother (Aaron) and his sister (Miriam), regardless of being a victim of their wickedness. Mosses was a very kind man. Moses is a great example of a great leader.
Moses was assigned the greatest task given by God to man besides Jesus. This task was impossible without much prayer and talking to God face-to-face. We are being reminded once again that fervent prayers can move mountains. For whatever task that God assigns us, He will always come through for us if we are willing to undertake it in His name. From the story of Moses, we learn some valuable lessons to enrich our prayer life.
1. For our prayer life to be effective, we must remember to pray for others. As we intercede for others, we establish a selfless relationship with God.
2. Leaders need to pray more and walk with God more closely to be effective in their leadership role.
3. For our prayers to be heard, we must learn to forgive those who hurt us.
4. There is no task that is so big that God cannot accomplish. In prayer, God will give us the courage, the strength and the wisdom required for the task.
5. We must cultivate a sense of humility for our prayer life to be established. Pride should never be part of a prayer warrior.
“Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12, NIV).
Thank you my brother, what a challenge. “who do we pray for and what do we pray for them” May God help us not offer selfish prayers.
Amen, selfish prayers are never heard or answered by God.
From my life experience, I can say that God does, sometimes, answer “selfish prayers” – as in the kind of prayer that asks God to act according to our will, without reference to His will. And I can also say that such an answer will result in a lot of suffering.
Some examples are found in the Bible. For instance, the Israelites said they wished they had died in the wilderness. They were complaining because things didn’t go their way. God answered that prayer, and all the people who complained died in the wilderness during the next 40 years.
Did God actually answer that prayer (was it even a prayer? – I think it was a complaint) or was that the natural consequence of the choices that they made? Maybe they are one and the same but it seems different to me.
For most of us, many of our prayers have at least the potential to be selfish because in our human nature we are selfish. Often we don’t even realize they are selfish. I certainly think some of them are answered and not always in a way that’s bad either.
Sometimes we can be like little kids, and let’s face it, they are pretty selfish. Parents still like to give them things and make them happy even though their requests can be self-centered. I think God relates to us the same way, though He is trying to grow us away from selfishness. But it takes time.
I’m not saying that God doesn’t sometimes also let us have what we want when He knows it isn’t good for us, but I believe it is still more letting us reap natural consequences. We need to learn things and often He lets us.
Hi Christina, thanks for your thoughts.
If prayer is talking to God, then complaining to God is prayer, isn’t it? 😉
My mother warned me against praying without being submitted to God’s will. God answered her prayer when she was sure what she wanted, but she had a lifetime to consider that maybe wasn’t the best for her.
Yes, of course, going against God’s will leads to natural consequences which aren’t good. With the the Israelites, it was a specific imposed consequences, but usually the consequences come as a direct result of our own choices.
I think we should submit to God’s will when we pray, but I am uncomfortable with “scaring” people into making sure they are in submission before they pray. I think some people would stop praying because they’d be afraid something bad would happen to them if they prayed the wrong way. God hears the desperate prayers of many people who don’t even know God enough to submit to His will. I think God wants us to pray no matter what and I think He is wise enough to know whether to answer or not. More than anything, He wants to be close to us and that involves talking.
I don’t know your mother’s situation so it’s hard to say whether God gave her something bad because she wasn’t submitted to His will. It’s possible it could have had a good outcome, but other factors influenced it to be different. I will not speculate because this side of Heaven we don’t know.
Now angrily shaking your fist at God is another matter altogether and I don’t think that works out well generally. The Israelites were in that camp. I suppose we can be too, but I imagine many are not.
Thanks for your thoughts, Christina. “Scaring people into submission” wasn’t on my mind. What was on my mind was that an attitude to submission is appropriate for prayer since, after all, God is our Creator. And insisting on our own way may result in God allowing us to have our own way, as in the case of my mother and many of the rest of us. My point was that God does answer “selfish” prayers that will likely have bad outcomes. My mother was sure that happened to her, and so am I.
Otoh, it wouldn’t be so bad for people to be “scared” of praying selfish/self-willed prayers. They are dangerous. Remember that the first step in the Christian experience, according to Jesus, is to be “poor in spirit” – to recognize our spiritual helplessness. That’s why God answers “desperate prayers” coming from people who realize their helplessness in a situation. And, yes, God also hears angry and fist-shaking prayers. The good thing about those prayers is that they are “real” and may be better prayers than the pious platitudes often repeated by Christians as prayer. God takes a person’s situation and background into account and answers accordingly. In some of the Psalms you can see that David complained to God more than once, but he always came around to an attitude of submission.
What is a selfish prayer?
Patrick here is an unselfish prayer. Though this prayer is talking to the Lord about yourself, it is not a selfish prayer . It is wise to open up your heart to the Lord. He is interested in your daily activities. He is interested in helping you along the Christian journey. Praying about your problems is not selfishness, rather humbling yourself before the Lord asking for strength to keep you from evil. Psalms 23:3. Claiming the promise of strength for the day. 2 Timothy 1:7. “Lord I need thee for strength today and clear and righteous mind.” “Heavenly Father take away my selfish thoughts.” He can do. Again open up your heart to the Lord with a meek and contrite spirit. Psalm 34:17-18.
The unselfish prayer.
Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul. Christ Object Lessons 159.3.
By all means spend time praying for others. By doing so, you are getting your mind off of self and your problems.
A selfish prayer is when you parade your goodness to the Lord.
“The nearer we come to Jesus and the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly we shall discern the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the less we shall feel like exalting ourselves.” Christ Object Lessons 160.1.
Moses’humility and recognition of the wickedness of man could not give him ample time to stay without communing with God. He has understood the weak characters of his siblings. This leaves a bigger lesson to we in leadership position to always be slow to anger when people under our care behave contrary to our guidilines.
God is love and is good but His love and goodness are hard for humans in their humanness to grasp and understand and appreciate. To understand,God’s love and goodness, one needs to develop a close relationship with Him through talk in prayer and Bible-readimg. Moses did just that.
If we would have the presence and power of God in our lives individually and corporately (local Church fellowship), we must cultivate the attitude and example set by Moses and the Messiah, Yeshua.
Today we have learned through the lesson and posts in our blog much of what we know of Moses prayer life, giving us evidence of his connection, faith, devotion, and surrender and dependence upon God our Father in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. I do believe that it is valid and necessary to study prayer separately, however in practically I find that prayer, devotion, and meditation on the Word of God, is inseparable.
Okay yes, I understand that by the end of the quarter we will have a perfect(Greek word teleios, which means complete, mature, fully accomplished, and I suppose come to fruition) understanding of growing in Christ, therefore “be ye “perfect” is not I am perfect, rather I am growing in Christ who strengeth me. Also, through Christ I am an overcomer, Revelation 12:11. All obtained by prayer, and meditation(thoughts put into practice. 1 Timothy 4:15. In the ESV.)
A suggestion meditating on verses, is studying the Bible to grow in Christ with the Holy Spirit by going over all of our 28 beliefs. https://adventist.org/beliefs#belief-7 Believe me it will take some time and meditation with the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Hey, you will be more prepared to share your faith, and have a closer walk with God. 1 Peter 3:15.
1 Sam.16:6-7
”When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.” But the LORRD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him, the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
John 4:23-24
”But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Why am I quoting these verses in the context of today’s lesson? Because I see them as a reminder that our fellowship with God in prayer is done within/by God’s Spirit and Truth – it is a form of worship. All the godly leaders of old, all those we now look back to and marvel at their faith and commitment to God, had accepted His Spirit and Truth to guide them. They were able to hear Him speak to their heart, understanding His Truth.
Many studies have been done to seek to understand the ‘power’ released through prayer. God works in mysterious ways when we pray for our enemies and one another. Through prayer, His Grace and Mercy reaches the heart and mind of man – benefiting the ‘recipient’ as well as the one who prays. And it can move mountains.
When praying, we request/seek the ‘Presence of God’, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to become directly involved on our behalf. We ask Him to manifest His Glory to counteract the adversary’s influences in life. God knows what is in our heart and responds by His Wisdom and Grace.
Psalm 51:10
”Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”, becomes our daily prayer – a form of worship. A heart filled with His Spirit seeks to address our God – being careful and discerning what we pray about. Will God’s response find a by His Spirit filled, contrite and willing heart? Psalm 51:16-17.
Just a comment on Moses interceding for Aaron and Miriam. I think the lesson wants us to come to the conclusion that they would have died if Moses had not interceded. That could be the case, but I’m not sure of that.
We aren’t more merciful than God and God is not some unfeeling Being that needs to be appeased to show mercy. I believe Moses was given the opportunity to intercede so that he would experience the heart of God himself. He was actually feeling the mercy and compassion of God. The same is true when we intercede with God for someone. I feel it’s less about twisting God’s arm and more about actually seeing things from God’s perspective.
God may very well have saved Aaron and Miriam even if Moses didn’t intercede, but the experience was crucial for Moses’ relationship with God.
Moses life shows a profile of a leader that cared for his people. Very few if any CEO could hold a candle to him. Though he was not perfect he had a zeal for his people. So much so that it caused him to take matters into his own hands on more than one occasion, the first in striking down the Egyptian taskmaster, the second in striking the rock when he was told to speak to the rock. Both of these lapses in judgment carried consequences, yet in both, God was gracious to him. God didn’t call any perfect people because none were available. He worked with what was available. Moses was chosen by God not so much because of his ability as much as because of his availability and willingness to listen to the voice of God. Moses gave God every reason why he felt that God had the wrong person in calling him to deliver and lead his people out of the bondage of Egypt. Yet God displayed his strength in Moses’s weakness.
The same God is looking through the earth today for people that are available to be empowered and used by him for some Divine assignment. Like Moses we often try to talk God out of it while he is trying to talk us into it. When we finally submit to God’s plan, we find a peace and a purpose that we didn’t know existed. Another thing that we can learn from Moses is that age isn’t a qualifying or disqualifying issue. God called Moses when he was eighty and used him in mighty ways despite his age. The only barrier to being used by God is our unavailability, not our inabilities.
It is not easy to forgive someone who has harmed us, but God’s counsel is clear: forgive them! As many times as it is needed! Forgive. When we can do that, we are the ones to feel free and peaceful! Who should I be forgiving today?