the leader's burden

Moses saw the face of God.
For him, it wasn’t obeying God that was difficult, but convincing others to do so.
God gave all of us free will. Which is why Moses was so deeply grieved for his fellowmen; there was always a possibility --- no, he knew it will come to pass over and over again --- that the people would draw away from God in pursuing their own selfish desires.
There’s the irony --- our best lies only in what God has planned for us. Who is more competent and more able to fulfill and satisfy us than the One who created us?
The question is, do we --- will we --- recognize Him? That He exists, that He created us, that He loves us, and that He already saved us?
In Moses’ words:
     The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
     if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
     For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it too far off.
     It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’
     Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’
     But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
     See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
     in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
     But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
     I announce to you today that you will surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
     I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
     that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
          --- Deuteronomy 30:9-20

God has raised up mighty leaders like Moses, those who became strong because they placed their total trust in the Almighty. God gave us leaders, but it will always be our choice to follow them and to follow Him. =)

(written December 5, 2005)