Humility is often seen as a sign of weakness. But Moses is an example of a servant leader who demonstrates that humility can be bold. He is described as “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). At the same time he was a bold and courageous leader who fought for his people. What do these two characteristics look like in the life of a servant leader?

Boldness requires a servant leader to fight for the people.

Moses fought, both figuratively and literally, for the freedom of his people. He boldly marched into Pharaoh’s court and repeated God’s words, “Let my people go!” This was not a timid, cowardly approach. He did not check the opinion polls before moving forward. Moses was a bold, servant leader who found a cause worthy of a struggle and stepped up to the task of leading a revolution. He did not initially consider himself adequate for the task and resisted God’s call, but ultimately realized that it was not about his ability but God’s agenda for His people. Then Moses became the bold visionary leader who led a nation to freedom.

Many leaders fight for themselves and to exercise their own authority. They win battles and achieve goals for themselves. Other leaders hold positions of influence but lack the vision and courage to call for action. They don’t fight for anything. Servant leaders fight boldly, not for their own agenda, but to see God’s purposes accomplished through those they lead. They view their family, business, work team or congregation as the group that God has given them and they are not timid about expressing God’s direction for this group. They are bold when they lead the charge against all opposition. They are courageous warriors, never content with the way things are! The boldness of servant leaders comes because they are fighting, not for themselves, but for others.

Humility enables a servant leader to intercede for the people.

Moses, as a young man, had demonstrated an ability to be bold when he killed the Egyptian. But his boldness was not, at that point, tempered with humility. He needed another 40 years of leadership training before he was ready to serve with humility! At this point, Moses’ leadership was characterized by continual conversation with God. God spoke to him; then Moses acted. He developed intimacy with God through continued conversation with Him. He became a leader with the humility to balance bold leadership with humble intercession. Nowhere was this demonstrated more clearly than when God was ready to destroy the nation for their rebellion at Horeb. Moses lay face down for 40 days, crying out to God on behalf of the people. (Read the summary in Deuteronomy 9, a great chapter of servant leadership.) He was still fighting for the people, but this time the fight was not bold confrontation but humble intercession.

When his own sister challenged his calling to leadership, Moses’ responded with prayer for her healing. That’s a sign of humility! Servant leaders learn to humbly fight battles on their knees as they pray by name for those under their leadership. This humility keeps them balanced and provides a safeguard against fighting their own battles. When they rise up from their knees, they know when and how to be bold. As they exercise bold leadership they return to their knees to again hear from God. They have learned not to fight for anything until they kneel over everything.

Then, and only then, they lead with bold humility.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Read Numbers 12, the account of Moses and Miriam. How do I respond when someone challenges my authority as a leader? What can I learn from Moses’ response to this challenge?
• What is most typical in my leadership, bold fighting or humble intercession? (If you are not sure, ask someone who follows you!) In what ways does this imbalance reveal itself in my leadership?
• In what ways have I demonstrated boldness in my leadership recently, “fighting” for my people? What demonstrates that this fighting is not for my own purposes, but for God’s design?
• Are there ways in which I have been timid about expressing God’s plan for those I lead? What do I need to change?
• How do I pray regularly, by name, for those whom God has entrusted to my leadership? Do they know it? In what way is God inviting me to strengthen this aspect of my leadership?

Servant leaders recognize that they stand in the gap between God and those they lead. In the last issue we observed that Moses led by being in God’s presence. A significant part of his time in God’s presence was spent on his face interceding on behalf of the people. The next day Moses said to 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.” (Ex 32:30) His face down leadership has much to teach us as servant leaders.

Face down leadership focuses on the needs of others.

Servant leaders petition God for the needs of their people. So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.” (Ex 32:31) It is natural to ask God to meet our own needs and there is certainly a time for this, but servant leaders focus on the needs of others. In face down leadership we serve those we lead by bringing their needs to God in prayer.

Face down leadership requires sacrifice.

Like so much of servant leadership, intercession is costly. For Moses, it meant that time after time he returned to God to bring the needs of the people. He sacrificed his time, mental and emotional energy on behalf of those he was serving. He was even willing to sacrifice his own position with God for the sake of others! “But now, please forgive their sin– but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” (Ex 32:32) As they intercede, servant leaders sacrifice their own needs for the sake of their followers.

Face down leadership releases the burden of leadership.

Moses acknowledged that the people he was leading were really God’s people when he told God, “Remember that this nation is your people.” (Ex 33:13) Moses felt the weight of leading an entire nation and knew that God had called him to that role, but prayer allowed him to gain the perspective that these were not “his” people. He was responsible to the people, but not for the people. Servant leaders release leadership burdens through intercession. The church, business, or group that you lead is not really ‘your’ group; they are simply God’s people that He has entrusted to your leadership. We are not at the top of the leadership chart; we simply act as stewards of God’s people. It is easy to lose this focus unless we spend time on our face in prayer. Servant leaders find the balance between active intercession and conscious release.

Face down leadership touches the heart of God.

And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” (Ex 33:17) I am amazed at how Moses’ intercession touches God’s heart and changes outcomes. God saw that the heart of Moses was not selfish but focused on others. Moses’ requests reminded God of His own promises and character. And repeatedly, God acted in response to Moses’ prayers. If you want to touch God’s heart, practice face down leadership focused on the needs of others! Whether you are called to lead in church, education, business or the arts, touch God’s heart by falling on your face to intercede for those you lead.

The background reading for this issue is: Exodus 32-33.

For further reflection and discussion:

• What percent of my time in prayer focuses on my needs and how much is centered on the needs of others?
• Are my prayers primarily concerned with the success of my own organization or God’s glory?
• Do I recognize that I am in the gap between ‘my’ people and God, or do I see myself as the leader on top?
• Do I have a plan for how I will pray for those under my leadership?