COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP

“…Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today…” – Exodus 14:13b

Moses modelled COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP, especially by Red Sea: “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever” (Exo.14:13). Courageous leadership is the ability to make bold, ethical decisions that align with a compelling vision, often involving taking calculated risks. Moses exemplified courageous leadership through his calm assurance in God, his clear direction to the people, and his obedient action in a seemingly impossible predicament. 

Composure Under Pressure: Moses did not succumb to the Israelites' fear and complaints when they saw the approaching Egyptian army, and said to him, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?” (vv.11b). Moses remained calm and confident, demonstrating strong, reliable, and dependable leadership.

Trust in Divine Deliverance: Moses' courage was rooted in his faith in God’s Intervention. He encouraged the people to not be afraid, to stand firm, and witness the Lord’s deliverance, fighting for them (vv.13-14). This statement redirected the people’s focus from their fear to God's Power, providing the platform for the release of His Command and Wonders: “And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea” (vv.15-16).

Decisive, Obedient Action: Moses promptly obeyed God's command for the people to advance. By faith, he stretched his hand and staff over the sea as ordered, to make a way: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided” (v.21). Moses followed God's instructions completely, and saw the outcome through, resulting in the Israelites safely crossing the Red Sea on dry land and the destruction of the pursuing Egyptian army (Exo.14:19-31). 

In addition to this calm assurance in the face of a frightful situation, which inspired his followers, Moses showed courageous leadership through obeying God's Call despite personal inadequacies (Exo.3:10-12); boldly confronting injustice (Exo.5:1); humility in seeking counsel and delegating responsibility (Exo.12:3; 18:13-26); and self-sacrificial intercession for his people, even offering to have his own name blotted out of God's book for their sake (Exo.32:11-14, 30-32). Moses also intentionally mentored and commissioned Joshua as his successor, ensuring a seamless leadership transition and a lasting legacy.