#Lifestyle/The Qualities of a Good Leader

Good leaders are known by their willingness to sacrifice time and life to serve others.

A good leader must be ready to face misunderstandings without bitterness or anger, and deal with people who for no reason might have difficulty with their leadership. Moses was a man who bore the burden of his people. Many times he fell on the ground before God and pleaded on behalf of the people placing their concerns above his as a mediator whenever the people sinned and rebelled against God. Even when the people treated him badly, he led them in love, and stayed humble.

To be a good leader, we must be humble, disciplined and patient. Our reason to serve must be above personal interest. Our drive must come from desiring to see the good of people, and it must outweigh any desire for wealth, self-promotion or power. It requires a heart for greater purpose, a supernatural knowledge and understanding of life from a higher perspective.

This brings us back to Moses, a man who never tired of falling on his face to plead and ask for mercy for the people he was leading even when they scorned his leadership, repeatedly rebelled and threw apologies about like children at play.

When I read the journey from Egypt to the plains of the Jordan River before crossing over to the Promised Land which took forty years, I can't help but be overcome with sadness for the short-sightedness of the people and respect for Moses who endured it all until it finally got to him.

It is unbelievable the patience he exercised in leading the people who had such short memory and lacked appreciation and thankfulness. A common trait with many of us in our generation. We blame God for even waking up until the carpet gets pulled from under our feet.

As he addressed the community one last time before handing over leadership to Joshua, listing all the instructions, and pointing out their failings, how they disobeyed God even after witnessing the miraculous works He performed among them, adding humbly that because of them, God was angry with him saying he would not enter the Land.

Even though I had read it many times, felt tightness in my throat, because it showed how a good leader could be pushed to despair, after going above and beyond the requirement of the role.

At a point God was so angry and wanted to destroy the people, but Moses would not give up hope, fell face down and pleaded for God's mercy for them.

He stood to benefit if he agreed with God for their destruction as God said He would establish a covenant with him and his descendants instead. [A lesson that we must never take God's grace for granted].

Any selfish person would have jumped at the opportunity, but Moses, was so humble that he cared more about God's reputation not his personal promotion. His concern was always what the nations of the world would think if God was to do anything that was not in keeping with his nature and character as they had heard how He loved, led and fought for the people.

Reading all those stories in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, having him summarise them at the end of his leadership only to be denied entrance into the Promised Land even though he pleaded, but because he failed to follow through with an instruction; the people having angered him was hard.

#What a man?

To think he was just a person like any of us, prepared by God and equipped for the work. A reminder that it is God who sets up one leader and put's down another--Psalm 75:7. Also if a people remain faithful to Him, He will reward them with good leaders--Psalm 125:3.

As God prepares people for His service, so does the Enemy use his available means to prepare those he unleashes upon the world for his destructive purposes.

But where God has the ability to supernaturally train, equip and transform people by His Spirit, the Enemy uses 'falsehood' and evil inventions and manipulative 'processes' to prepare those he uses.

Therefore, the quality of a good leader, depends on the nature and character of the trainer.

#Preparation Time

When God trains, He pours His nature and character into the person, allowing His goodness to form within. It is like taking a raw diamond, working till all the imperfections and impurities are removed and the real gem sparkles.

No person can face the temptations or trials without a solid foundation that is only possible through years of discipline, discernment and prayer.

Having left a comfortable lifestyle in the palace of Pharoah to squat as a foreigner in Midian, humility must have been learned from those humble surroundings. It must also have prepared him to deal with disputes without him being offended by people's derogatory comments despite his love and concerns as he sought the best for them.

#Warning Against Accepting Bribes

He knew what character a leader should have, and advised the people that when in the Land, they were to choose leaders who would not twist justice or accept bribes, "for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly." [Deuteronomy 16:19].

In chapter 18:13, he said to them, "But you must be blameless before the LORD your God."

Because a person can look good before people while the heart reveals something else to God.

The account of his conversation with God where he pleaded for God's mercy to be allowed to go into the Land is recorded in Deuteronomy 3:23-27. The error of his action is recorded in Numbers 20:1-13 where instead of speaking to the rock, he hit it with the staff and spoke angrily. [Christ is the Rock, our source of water that whoever drinks never thirst again].

Moses then informed the people in Deuteronomy 18:15, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to Him."

The giving of Jesus fulfilled that message--Matthew 2:1-2.

Jesus did not just show good leadership in His love for all people , bearing our sins and sicknesses by being stricken for us, [Isaiah 53:5]. He gave His life on the Cross to bring all people into a living relationship with God by reconciling the world through His death and resurrection. By His brokenness we are healed and redeemed if we accept Him as Moses instructed the people.

May the LORD keep us humble and disciplined to be good leaders wherever He places us.