THE MIGHT OF EFFECTIVE LEADERS

THE MIGHT OF EFFECTIVE LEADERS

MAY 14, 2025

TEXT: “And Moses brought their cause before the LORD” (NUMBERS 27:5)

Successful leadership requires much more than occupying a position or bearing a title. It entails having an understanding of one’s limitations and weaknesses and knowing how to leverage the strength and support of others, whether they are one’s superiors or juniors. Our text reveals the sensitive and unusual request made to Moses, the servant of God, by the five daughters of Zelophehad, a man of the tribe of Manasseh. These ladies wanted Moses to allot them land (an inheritance) among their father’s brothers since their late father had no son. This, they maintained, was to ensure that their father’s name and possession would not be lost among his brethren. Because Moses had not handled that kind of issue before, he assured the young women that he would bring their matter before God. God told him that the daughters of Zelophehad were right, and he should allocate them land among their father’s brothers.

Leaders must learn to be willing to admit when they do not have immediate answers to questions or inquiries from the people. It does not diminish their person or honor when they do so. Rather, it further earns them the respect of their followers and endears them to their hearts. Honesty and sincerity are of great importance in leadership. When leaders make mistakes in judgment and decisions, they should be willing to admit them. After all, leaders are human too. However, it is essential for leaders to be willing to pay the price of diligently finding out what they do not know from God through prayer and proper study. This will save the leader from giving wrong judgment or counsel.

AMIABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GODLY LEADER

1. Availability: Moses had a lot of things demanding his attention, including the need for prayer, yet he was available to people who needed his attention.
2. Accessibility: One can be available without being accessible to common people. Moses was accessible to common people.
3. Associability: Moses was not a lone ranger who saw himself above all. He listened to complaints, worked, and made decisions alongside other workers.
4. Anti-discrimination: The Jews, by culture, discriminated against the female gender. We can see that Moses was fair to all without partiality or gender bias. A true godly leader abhors all forms of discrimination.
5. Attentiveness: The leader listened attentively to the complaints of those ladies and acted dispassionately. A good leader is never “Mr. Know All.” Also, note that Moses could hear from God clearly and with rapt attention. As a spiritual leader, hearing from God should be the norm.
6. Accountability: A leader is accountable both to the people they are leading and to God. They asked Moses, “Why?” Some leaders hate being questioned.
7. Acceptance: Moses accepted the will of God as final without modifying or debating it. This is how you know a godly leader.
8. Advancement: Moses was more spiritually advanced than all other Israelites. God preferred speaking to him from above the mercy seat.

SEARCH LIGHT: Be humble; only humility makes our leadership superb.

PRAYER: God, promote me and use me as a leader in your household of faith and in the secular world more than ever before.

BIBLE READING:
Esther 4-6, Colossians 4.

PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE