When It Comes to Leadership, Nothing Compares to Time with God

What kind of leader should you have? What kind should you be? In Exodus 32 we are confronted with two totally different kinds of leaders whose immense differences hinge on one simple practice.

The first leader is Aaron. He quickly turns on his own brother and spiritual leader who has just performed incredible acts of God while delivering hundreds of thousands of Jews from 400 years of Egyptian bondage. He fashions an idol and quickly leads God's people into sinful revelry. When he is called out by Moses, this is his response:

Exodus 32:22–26 (ESV) Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” 25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.

Notice what Aaron does concerning the sin he led the people of Israel into. First he makes light of it, "Don't get angry Moses, it's not that bat!" Then he blames the people, "You know how they are!" He takes a slight jab at Moses' time on the mountain. He lies flat out in how the calf came into being and then he lets the people do what they want instead of standing up for what was right and actually leading them. 

This is not the kind of leader you want to be or have.

The second kind of leader is Moses. Notice what he does...

Exodus 32:19–20 (ESV) And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.

Exodus 32:26–28 (ESV) then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’ ” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.

Exodus 32:30–32 (ESV) The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”

Moses does everything Aaron did NOT do.

Where Aaron made the calf for the people to see and worship and revel around, Moses destroyed it completely making the people drink its remains so that there might be no hope of resurrecting that fatal instrument of false worship. 

Were Aaron let the people run wild, Moses enlisted fighting men to rid the land of those who would lead Israel astray similarly in the future putting 3,000 to death. Some may have a hard time with this action but we weren't there, we didn't see how bad it was, and I'm sure this was a merciful action considering what these 3,000 led the people to do in self-destruction.

Where Aaron blamed everyone else, Moses took the blame, offering himself for their forgiveness. Of course, God did not take Moses up on that offer because one day His Son would do it for all of us!

Two leaders ... two completely different leadership actions. What made the difference?

Simple answer: TIME WITH GOD.

Moses had just spent 40 days on the mountain beholding the glory of God in prayer and listening to His voice. He became more LIKE God in his attitude and actions. He hated sin more, he loved people more, he gave MORE of himself and lived for others. Moses' time with God on that mountain shaped him into a type of Christ so clearly illustrated in this passage it is astounding!

Aaron on the other hand, spent NO time with God during those 40 days. He listened to the people he was supposed to lead. Therefore, he had no bearings for when their patience waned and their idolatrous hearts rebelled. He was supposed to be a leader but he became the ultimate follower and excuser.

I want to be like Moses. I bet you do too. What keeps a leader (or anyone) able to lead the way God would have them lead? TIME ALONE WITH HIM. The one who speaks for God publicly, must first spend time hearing from Him privately. 

Leadership is only as good as the ONE you're following yourself.