1. Leaders should not allow the pressure or burden of the people to frustrate them into disobeying God. The leader would face overbearing and overwhelming moments, from the people, he should, however, not be bugged by the taunts of the people or boxed into having to prove a point to them. Leadership is not about playing to the gallery or pandering to popular opinion. That may be a sign of insecurity. Remember, Saul, lost the kingdom because he cared too much about what the people would say (1 Sam 15: 24).
2. There could be results even in our disobedience. However, results do not justify us or validate wrongdoing. Result is never evidence of righteousness. There could be results even in unrighteousness. So, those who are quick to defend error because "it works," should remember that Moses was in error when he struck the rock twice, instead of speaking to the rock, and water still gushed out.
3. The rock represents Christ in the Old Testament ( 1 Cor 10:4). Christ has been sacrificed (stricken), for our salvation once and for all. Any sacrifice we are trying to offer now in terms of works or human permutation to attain salvation or its benefits is like striking the Rock instead of just speaking to the Rock by affirming what has already been accomplished. This itself is disobedience.
4. Any form of disobedience, disruptive of God's pattern for His people, including acts of legalism, and emphases on works, dishonors Christ and does not bring glory to his name. Rather, it focuses attention on human leaders and elevates their whims and esteem in the mind of the people. It denies the people of truly encountering and glorifying God.
5. God will not spare leaders still striking when they are supposed to be speaking to the Rock. Those disrupting God's redemptive pattern for humanity and for the church should know that the servant who refuses to do according to the Lord's will, shall be beaten with many stripes (Luke 12:47).
No comments:
Post a Comment