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It might come as a surprise to you to learn that Moses was not a leader in the traditional sense, as he is depicted by Cecil B. DeMille in the classic movie, The Ten Commandments. In the movie, Moses wields a large staff, appearing as a commander, but if you study his story in depth, you’ll see that he wasn’t a commander. His genius lay in his didactic gift, which is all about intellect. For instance, the book of Deuteronomy contains 613 laws, which showcases Moses' high level of intellect. He was disciplined for striking the rock instead of speaking to it and was judged more harshly for it. However, Moses had an exceptional ability to collect, organize, categorize, and archive information, ideas, and artifacts about God and His instructions. Torah studies begin here, and the early church's understanding of Bible doctrine initially came from the Pentateuch. This meticulous approach to teaching and preserving knowledge set the foundation for future generations to understand and follow God's commandments.
At Kadesh Barnea, on the doorstep of Canaan, when the ten spies returned from scouting the promised land, if Moses had been a leader, he would not have taken a vote. But he did, and the majority prevailed, with Ephraim, armed to the teeth, “turning back” on the day of battle (Ps 78:9). There is no point in taking a vote when you know God has spoken; those who have heard firsthand ought to speak out convincingly and persuasively.
If Moses had been a true leader, he would have told the spies at Kadesh Barnea, “Shut up and follow.” He would have led them into the promised land and built the Tabernacle in Canaan, not in the wilderness. Think about that. The next time you see a ‘leader’ who looks the part but becomes tired and grumpy after leading, know that they are not energized by leadership.
Leadership in the world is a combination of positivity, achievement, deliberation, command, self-assurance, and more. These traits are inherent if you are a leader. Moses was a teacher at his core with a disciplined mindset. He could imprint values on the next generation, synthesize multiple sources into something new, and create a new nation of priests who were no longer slaves or Egyptians, but sons.
With clarity, Moses could catalog and categorize laws with precision. He could explain the meanings of various complex concepts, clarify muddied waters, and reframe questions to get to the heart of the issue. The Charlton Heston version of Moses is very different from the reality. If you read the Pentateuch, you’ll see that a true leader would not engage in such meticulous cataloging and classification. The book of Leviticus, for example, is dense and often inaccessible, demanding a teacher's touch to decode and comprehend.
Footnotes:
John Samuel and Skip Moen: Zone 3: “The drive and urge to teach and impart knowledge, understanding or skills in a structured and coherent manner. Individuals will in a systematic way explain, teach and impart factual knowledge and ensure complete comprehension of the subject matter.”
