People who are leaders stand out. They don’t necessarily look or act a certain way until the need for their action is apparent.  Among their skills are outspokenness, decisiveness, action, and control.  These skills can be used for great good or great evil.  Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, was a natural leader.  The events of his life provided many opportunities to exercise those skills.  Unfortunately Judah’s decisions were often shaped more by the pressures of the moment than by a conscious desire to cooperate with God’s plan.  But when he did recognise his mistakes, he was willing to admit them.  His experience with Tamar and the final confrontation with Joseph are both examples of Judah’s willingness to bear the blame when confronted.  It was one of the qualities he passed on to his descendant David.

Whether or not we have Judah’s natural leadership qualities, we share with him a tendency to be blind towards our own sin. Too often, however, we don’t share his willingness to admit mistakes.  From Judah we can learn that it is not wise to wait until our errors force us to admit to wrongdoing.  It is far better to admit our mistakes openly, to shoulder the blame, and to seek forgiveness.

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Was a natural leader – outspoken and decisive
• Thought clearly and took action in high-pressure situations
• Was willing to stand by his word and put himself on the line when necessary
• Was the fourth son of 12, through whom God would eventually bring David and Jesus, the Messiah

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Suggested to his brothers they sell Joseph into slavery
• Failed to keep his promise to his daughter-in-law, Tamar

Lessons from his life:

• God is in control, far beyond the immediate situation
• Procrastination often makes matters worse
• Judah’s offer to substitute his life for Benjamin’s is a picture of what his descendant Jesus would do for all people

Vital statistics:

• Where: Canaan and Egypt
• Occupation: Shepherd
• Relatives: Parents: Jacob and Leah. Wife: The daughter of Shua (1 Chronicles 2.3).  Daughter-in-law: Tamar.  Eleven brothers, at least one sister, and at least five sons

Key verses: “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s son will bow down to you.  You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son.  Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness – – who dares to rouse him?  The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his” (Genesis 49.8-10).

Judah’s story is told in Genesis 29.35-50:26. He is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2-4.

Some people can’t stay out of trouble. When conflict breaks out, they always manage to be nearby.  Reaction is their favourite action.  This was Moses.  He seemed drawn to what needed to be righted.  Throughout his life, he was at his finest and his worst responding to the conflict around him.  Even the burning bush experience was an illustration of his character.  Having spotted the fire and seen that the bush did not burn, he had to investigate.  Whether jumping into a fight to defend a Hebrew slave or trying to referee a struggle between two kinsmen, when Moses saw conflict, he reacted.

Over the years, however, an amazing thing happened to Moses’ character. He didn’t stop reacting, but rather learned to react correctly.  The kaleidoscopic action of each day of leading two million people in the desert was more than enough challenge for Moses’ reacting ability.  Much of the time he served as a buffer between God and the people.  At one moment he had to respond to God’s anger at the people’s stubbornness and forgetfulness.  At another moment he had to react to the people’s bickering and complaining.  At still another moment he had to react to their unjustified attacks on his character.

Leadership often involves reaction. If we want to react with instincts consistent with God’s will, we must develop habits of obedience to God.  Consistent obedience to God is best developed in times of less stress.  Then when stress comes, our natural reaction will be to obey God.

In our age of lowering moral standards, we find it almost impossible to believe that God  would punish Moses for the one time he disobeyed outright. What we fail to see, however, is that God did not reject Moses; Moses simply disqualified himself from entering the promised land.  Personal greatness does not make a person immune to error or its consequences.

In Moses we see an outstanding personality shape by God [Wall]. But we must not misunderstand what God [Wall] did.  He did not change who or what Moses was; he did not give Moses new abilities and strengths.  Instead, he took Moses’ characteristics and moulded them until they were suited to his purposes.  Does knowing this make a difference in your understanding of God’s purpose in your life?  He is trying to take what he created in the first place and use it for its intended purposes.  The next time you talk with God [Wall], don’t ask, “What should I change into?” but “How should I use my own abilities and strengths to do your will?”

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Egyptian education; desert training
• Greatest Jewish leader; set the exodus in motion

• Prophet and law-giver; recorder of the Ten Commandments
• Author of the Pentateuch

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Failed to enter the promised land because of disobedience to God

• Did not always recognise and use the talents of others

Lessons from his life:

• God prepares, then uses. His timetable is life-sized

• God does his greatest work through frail people

Vital statistics:

• Where: Egypt, Midian, Desert of Sinai
• Occupations: Prince, shepherd, leader of the Israelites

• Relatives: Sister: Miriam.  Brother: Aaron.  Wife: Zipporah.  Sons: Gershom and Eliezer.

Key verses:    “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time”    (Hebrews 11.24, 25).

Moses’ story is told in the books of Exodus to Deuteronomy. He is also mentioned in Acts 7.20-44; Hebrews 11.23-29.