Acts 7:39-46 

³⁹ “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. ⁴⁰ They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ ⁴¹ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. ⁴² But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? ⁴³ You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon. ⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. ⁴⁵ After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, ⁴⁶ who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

Sheep

In 2006, 400 sheep plunged to their death in eastern Turkey after one of the sheep tried to cross a 15-meter deep ravine, and the rest of the flock followed.

Sheep have this “Follow the Leader” instinct. When one sheep moves, the rest will follow, even if it is not a good idea. The dominant members of the flock usually lead, followed by the submissive ones. If there is a ram, a male sheep in the flock, that ram usually leads.

Sheep are a very social animal. In a grazing situation, they need to see other sheep. They would easily panic and will run from what frightens them. They band together in large groups for protection.

When Moses was up the mountain receiving the commandments from the Lord, the Israelites were waiting at the foot of the mountain. The Israelites were like sheep without a shepherd and they have gone astray. They panicked because there was no shepherd who would lead them.

Let’s learn from the Israelites about man’s choice and God’s choice of leadership.

1.  Man’s Choice

³⁹ “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 

At the early stage of his leadership, the Israelites saw Moses as hesitant kind of leader. They might have thought that Moses was undecided in many decision makings because he would ask God everything he could possibly decide on his own.

The Israelites were used to Egyptian masters who were very firm in their decisions. Just few weeks from Egyptian slavery, they were adjusting to a life of free person. The life they were expert with at that time was life with a master commanding them. Time management skill was a strange thing to them, at that time.

So, when Moses was up the mountain, they cannot wait doing nothing and they panicked. Forty days, forty nights without a leader commanding them were just a long time for them to wait. They might have thought Moses has left them and did not know how to live as a free people.

⁴⁰ They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ ⁴¹ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. ⁴² But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? ⁴³ You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon.

They have no sense of choosing the right leader at that time because as slaves in Egypt they did not take part in the choice or election of who would be their master. And since Aaron was Moses’ assistant and brother, they thought that Aaron would be good enough as their leader. So they practiced their right to choose a leader for themselves as free citizens.

Being free citizens was a new experience but they wanted a leader. They chose Aaron as leader but they dictate to him what he should do or how to lead them. The Israelites commanded their new leader, Aaron to make a god for them.

In Egypt, the Israelite slaves built temples and made thousands of Egyptian gods or idols. So, their mindset about god is: Man is responsible to design and create the god he wants. That was what they did and told their chosen-leader, Aaron to make a god for them. They wanted a god they have designed, to worship the way they want, to sacrifice to the god they made they way they think best, in short, they wanted a god they can manipulate.

Not to be ignored was their choice of a leader. When they chose Aaron as their leader, they dictated what their chosen-leader should do.

Aaron did not volunteer as their leader and had no idea on how to lead them. So, being new to leadership role, Aaron just did what the Israelites told him to do. He might have wanted also to please the people and might have been afraid of the people.

He might have also desired to be leader and to maintain that leadership position, he thought that it might be good if he just follow what the people would tell him, to please them. Aaron was a leader, who followed those who are supposed to be following him.

The Israelites chose their leader, designed their god and way of worship resulting to idolatry.

Moody Brothers

What happens when teenagers reject their parents’ instructions and follow themselves?

At the age of 15, the oldest of Moody siblings left home to explore his opportunities. Since his only work experience was farming, he never found a better job in the city. His family never heard from him for many years until one day he came home frustrated.

His younger brother went also to explore his future in the big city. He stayed and worked in his uncle’s shoe store and became a good salesman. His uncle required him to attend church and Sunday school as condition of his stay.

This younger brother came to receive Christ as his Lord and grew strong in his faith. He became a very successful salesman and later on became a well-known evangelist.

The Israelites who died in the wilderness were like the older brother in the story who did not have any city-life experience and decided to go back to the country side. The Israelites desired to go back to Egypt because they thought it was better to be a slave than to be free person because they did not have any idea how to live a life of free citizens.

But those who were able to enter Canaan, they were like the younger brother who chose to obey his uncle attended church and Sunday school and trusted in Christ.

Those who were able to enter Canaan did not choose a leader they can command. They obeyed the leader that God has chosen for them.

2.  God’s Choice

⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. ⁴⁵ After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, ⁴⁶ who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

Moses, Joshua, and David were God’s anointed leaders for His chosen people.

There were other prominent leaders, but when Stephen was giving his speech before the Sanhedrin, Moses, Joshua, and David were the appropriate names in relation to the faithfulness of those who obeyed their God-chosen leaders.

Stephen continued his speech on how the Tabernacle was brought from the wilderness to the location where God wanted to be placed.

When a God’s chosen leader was leading the Israelites, they enjoyed God’s favor.

Leaders are like a basketball coach leading a group of players to play as a team in unity.

Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson is more acknowledged and known in the basketball world as a coach.

Not much about his talent as a basketball player is discussed or given to discussion. Basketball fans are less interested with Phil’s 2 championship ring as a player. He was not one of the great player but just an average basketball player.

When basketball fans talk about Phil Jackson, they would talk about his brilliance in coaching basketball because he won 11 basketball championship rings.

Phil Jackson, an average basketball player became a great basketball coach. Great players don’t necessarily equate to becoming a great basketball coach. To be a coach in basketball is different from individual talent to dribble or shoot.

In the ministry: singing, playing instrument, teaching, making powerpoint or preaching, are individual talents that are uniquely different from the gift of leadership. Normally, when choosing a leader, popularity or majority vote is the deciding factor. History tells us that popularity does not necessarily convert to being a good leader. Good leaders come from different age level, upbringing and experiences in life.

David, a young person, was a shepherd boy; his father and older brothers did not think or even consider him to become their king. Joshua, a middle age person, was 40-year assistant of Moses before God chose him. Moses, the 80-year old man, was rejected by the Israelites, at first, God made him leader.

Christians are called to lead others to Christ; we are leaders at a varied potentiality.

With man’s choice of leaders leading, expect idolatry. But when God-chosen leaders are leading, the church enjoys God’s favor.

May God bless His anointed leaders to continue serving and obeying Him faithfully.

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