When leaders fail to follow the path of humility
Exodus 11 (Selected verses)
11 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here; indeed, when he lets you go, he will drive you away. 2 Tell the people that every man is to ask his neighbour and every woman is to ask her neighbour for objects of silver and gold.’ 3 The Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was a man of great importance in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s officials, and in the sight of the people.
4 Moses said, ‘Thus says the Lord: About midnight I will go out through Egypt. 5 Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the female slave who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 6 Then there will be a loud cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as has never been nor will ever be again. 7 But not a dog shall growl at any of the Israelites—not at people, not at animals—so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 Then all these officials of yours shall come down to me, and bow low to me, saying, “Leave us, you and all the people who follow you.” After that I will leave.’ And in hot anger he left Pharaoh.
9 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh will not listen to you, in order that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.’ 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.
A final cataclysmic plague is about to visited on the Egyptians, one that will change both Egypt and Israel forever. Moses pronounces a death verdict against all first-borns in the entire nation (Except the Israelites). The sins of Pharaoh are bringing consequences on the nation of Egypt very directly.
This is a reminder that the actions of leaders impact the followers. It seems unfair that that would be the way things are, but that is the way things are. We are part of communities and the leaders of a community can bring both blessings and curses upon the community members. The terrible consequences of Pharaoh’s actions beg the question, what else could the people of Egypt have done to prevent those consequences?
There were brave advisors who told Pharaoh to change his ways. There were wise advisors who sought to protect their livestock and the employees from the hailstorm. There were generous Egyptians who gave of their resources to the Israelites. But was there more that people could have done? That question will go unanswered, because at this distance of time it is impossible to know. But there is a fact hidden in this story, not all the Egyptians agreed with Pharaoh, not all the Egyptians were enemies of the Israelites. When a nation’s leader makes a pronouncement, we need to be wise enough to understand that not all the citizens of the nation agree. While leaders speak, they may or may not speak for the people. Among the people of every nation are persons who follow Jesus Christ first and foremost, these are our siblings in Christ regardless of what their leaders may say or do.
PRAYER:
God of grace and mercy, while human leaders rise and fall, your reign is forever. While loyalty to thrones and empires pass away, loyalty to you and your people, regardless of national background, is forever. Draw us deeper into your reign as our primary loyalty. In Jesus’ name. Amen.