“A Leader Who Cares…!”

“A Leader Who Cares…!”(Ex.32:30-34).
The word “care” refers to “the provision of what is necessary for the health, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.” Our present predicaments results from the insensitivity of leaderships within the sacred and secular spheres at any level and strata. When a leader says, “Who cares?” there will be confusion and chaos. When this happens the only way to keep on is the use of dictatorship and “cabalism” to quell dissenting voices – despite their relevance. It is here that we look for role models whom we can emulate.
Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the stone tablets only to see that Aaron had made a golden calf as the people’s god. Moses burned with anger to the extent that “he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces…” The good part is that he also “took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire…”(Ex.32:19ff).
Even though in that fit of anger Moses caused about three thousand people to be killed in one day, he still distinguished himself as a selfless leader.
The next day he told the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
Making atonement for such a great sin was actually a matter of “perhaps.” “Perhaps” expresses uncertainty or possibility.
Nevertheless, he had to intercede for the people. God had given him that role of mediator.
However, the great sin was one that no sacrifice that the people or Moses might bring could atone for.
When Moses went before the LORD he prayed: “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed. They have made themselves gods of gold. “But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
This is where Moses is a true prototype to Jesus Christ.
Moses was ready to die, if that should be the only way by which God will forgive the erring children! But he was not the one to be the scapegoat for humanity.
God appreciated Moses’ readiness to be an atonement for the great sin, but God had his way of dealing with the matter. He told Moses: “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book…when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.” Here God stresses individual responsibility. It is as he told Ezekiel in later days, “The soul that sins shall die.” Only one person was destined to die on behalf of others.
The Son of God was the one who was to die not only for the sins of Israel, but for the sins of humankind. The Lord Jesus Christ is the atonement for our transgressions.
While we give glory to God for the manifestation of his grace, mercy and pardon in Jesus Christ, we should be obedient to the Christ who says, “Go and sin no more!”
Prayer of the week: Holy Spirit guide me against presumptuous sin. Amen! Welcome back to a new working day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Prayer point: Pray against the inclination towards wanting gods of gold. Pray for gullible leaders like Aaron not to bow to pressure and lead the people into idolatory.
Rev Babila Fochang.