Numbers 27:15-23 - Christ Be My Leader!

This week, I had the privilege, at least at the beginning of the week, to attend our Western Wisconsin District Convention in Watertown.  There, it was announced that out of our 12 Synodical Districts, 5 District Presidents would not be seeking reelection.  That’s over 1/3 of our Conference of Presidents swapping out this month. At the very same time, it was announced that President Schroeder (our synodical president) would be retiring at the end of this term in 2027.  That volume of turnover in our COP is relatively unheard of.  Of course, we are all too aware of the shortages of workers afflicting almost every industry in America, and while I would not say that the Church is a business, it is not untouched by these shortages. While seminary had 46 men stand for assignment this year (the largest since my class of almost 60 … that was 21 years ago), we still have 128 pastoral vacancies synod-wide. After assigning 79 teachers from Martin Luther College, over 110 vacancies remain in our schools, which constitutes the 4th largest parochial system in the US.  Yes, Jesus’ words in our Gospel Lesson ring true, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37)”

I suppose there are different ways we could go with that information.  We could panic … our leadership is changing … our churches and schools sit vacant … yep, the sky is falling, Henny Penny, so let's freak out.  Or, and I believe this to be the far better option here, we could take a deep breath, acknowledge that there is still work to do, and that, believe it or not, we actually do live in a sin-filled world where things are bound to change, but that even all of this still squarely resides in the hands of our God.  I believe that encouragement is in the words of our lessons today.

Place yourselves in the shoes of the fledgling Israelite nation. While slaves in Egypt, they had grown to number likely over 2,000,000 (cf. Numbers 1:46 and Exodus 38:26 fighting men [20 and older] = 603,550 multiply X4 for women, children, and Levites not numbered).  Moses would not be able to lead them into the promised land. The great lawgiver had sinned at Meribah, and instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded in frustration and exhaustion from dealing with an unruly nation, he had struck the rock twice with his staff instead.   As a result, Moses, that great leader of men, who had performed all of those signs and wonders for the people as they left the land of Egypt, would not lead the people past their desert wandering.  Interesting, no? Anger, frustration, the law, they don’t get to enter the promised land (hold on to that thought).

I suppose there were several options both for Moses and the people at this juncture.  They could panic.  The miracle man is going to disappear.  Not just anyone can lead a nation of 2-3 million.  Even Moses struggled with this!  Yep, the sky is falling, Henny Penny, so let's freak out. Or … well, Moses was a good leader, and our lesson tells us, 15 Moses spoke to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community, 17 who will go out before them and come in before them, who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

And what did God do? 18 The Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and place your hand on him. 19 Have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the entire community. You will commission him in their sight. 20 You will give some of your authority to him so that the entire Israelite community will listen to him. 21 He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him before the Lord with the decision of the Urim. He and all the Israelites with him, the entire community, will go out at his command and come in at his command.”  The Lord provided a leader.  Who will lead Israel into the promised land?  Again, not anger, frustration, the law, but Joshua.  Oh, and this is interesting!  In Greek, the name of God’s one and only Son, Your Savior and mine, is “Jesus”. But in Hebrew it’s “Joshua”. Both names mean the same thing, “The Lord Saves!” Who/what will lead the people into the promised land? Not anger, frustration, the law, but the Lord Saves, the Gospel will lead them!

Now I’m guessing that in the grand scheme, a few synodical leaders swapping seats isn’t such a large deal for most of us.  That’s actually a good thing; it speaks of trust in those who will take their place.  But I am willing to guess that in this world filled with trouble, filled with sin, there are any number of things that cause us no small amount of anxiety.  Sin and satan with it have a whole bag of tricks to leave us feeling frustrated and tired, anger-filled as God’s laws are ignored or downright despised.  Yes, as we look around, there are a plethora of things that may make us feel like the sky is falling, and it’s time to panic.  Look, I get it; I live in it too.  So, what shall we do?

Moses didn’t go to himself or trust in the wisdom of men.  He went to the only one who could help.  He turned to the Lord, and He prayed.  That’s the far better option.  Remember, Anger, frustration, law, they don’t enter the promised land, but the Lord, the Lord saves His people.  In Christ Jesus, the victory over all- sin, death, the devil’s power has already been secured.  His perfect life fulfilled the law for us, not ignoring it but keeping it completely fully for us and in our place.  His innocent death on the cross was the perfect payment for sin, yours, mine, and the millions and billions of others who have called this big blue ball home. His blood cleanses us from every single sin.  His resurrection is the proof of the pudding that the doors of the promised land of heaven stand forever open to all who by grace, through faith, believe in Him. Yes, the Gospel puts the promise in our hands and writes it on our hearts. This, dear friends, this is enough for anxious hearts and panic-ridden souls. And if that were all our dear Lord gave us, it would be enough.

But it’s not all He gives us.  He promises to send us voices, men, leaders who will, like Moses and Joshua and countless others, point the way to Christ.  No, they will not always be plentiful; there will be droughts like in the days of Elijah, but God will provide.  He will send them out like the twelve in our Gospel Lesson.  His Church, invisible, will endure to the very end of the ages.  It will be held in fragile human hands as water, and the Word welcomes new members into its fold.  Received by people on the verge of panic and struggling with sin as bread and wine, miraculously, the very body and blood of Christ give forgiveness, new life, and salvation.  It will be heard and read by the leaders and the people God gives them to.  Jesus promised it and sends the Holy Spirit to secure it even in frustrated and angry hearts that they might have the hope of eternal life with Him. 

Fast forward through the book of Joshua as the people stand in the promised land and Joshua prepares to leave the leadership position God had placed him in.  As he stands before the people, God gives him words to speak.  And what are they? 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:14-15)” Ah, yes, he points back to God.  Faithful servants always do.  Yes, brothers and sisters, as leadership changes, as shortages continue, as sin, satan, and death rage in the world around us, God will provide leaders, workers, servants for His people.  But may our prayer always be to the One who sends them, that they would point to Him and His leadership.  Yes, Christ be my, our Leader. Amen.