God gave Israel the greatest leader ever known. In failing to follow God’s man, the famous congregation betrayed a lack of faith in God himself. His great glory revealed among them is unparalleled in history. Yet now we remember them as the church in the wilderness, wandering outside God’s promised blessings. What can we learn of leadership and the special relationship between pastor and people?

Do these sound like things you can and should love about your pastor:

He thinks he's God's gift to the church

He is a Bible thumper

He's always stirring things up

He's asking for trouble

He routinely leads the church Into difficulties

He avoids me

He preaches hard

His ranting makes me sick

His wife is, shall we say, "different"

He asks the impossible

He rules over me

He's said some things he shouldn't have said

And he always preaches the same thing

These were the things about Moses that caused all the murmuring. And they are the complaints about and best qualities of great leaders today. More positively stated:

He is a gift from God

He loves the Bible

The Holy Spirit works in and through him

He is separated from the world

He leads by faith

He gives himself to prayer and the Word

He preaches truth and mercy

He hates sin

He loves his family

He has vision

He rules well

He bears his responsibility with grace

And he preaches the word of God

If you know a leader like this, then, stand by God's man!