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In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts his experiences leading the difficult people of Israel (whom he describes as “stiff-necked,” Deuteronomy 9:6). After they left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, God called Moses to visit with the Lord on Mount Sinai. Moses went up the mountain, was gone forty days, and God gave Moses the Ten Commandments carved into two stone tablets. During those forty days, “I did neither eat bread, nor drink water” Deuteronomy 9:9.
Moses then reports that God told him to go down the mountain because “thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves” v.12. Moses goes down the mountain, sees the people worshipping the golden calf, throws down and breaks the two stone tablets, and falls down before the Lord, Deuteronomy 9:15-17.
“And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger” Deuteronomy 9:18.
Wait. Didn’t Moses just finish a forty-day fast? And now he fasts for another forty days? Or is it a single, 80-day fast? Opinions vary. I am persuaded that this is a second 40-day fast, although Moses probably ate for several days in between. (In later verses, Moses reports that before going back up the mountain, he first carved from stone two new tablets on which God would write a second copy of the Ten Commandments.) Regardless of the time that may have passed, we know that God miraculously sustained Moses through a fasting experience most would not survive.
But even if you believe Moses only fasted for forty days one time, consider this: WHAT KIND OF LEADER FASTS FOR FORTY DAYS ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE? Would you do it? Would I? What was in his heart, that Moses would even consider it?
Perhaps you answer, Well, I’m not Moses. I’m not in charge of Israel.
Maybe not. But do you lead a family? Do you lead a business? Do you lead a marriage? Do you lead students? Do you lead teammates? Do you lead your friends?
Each of us has a circle of influence. The circle of people around you may be as large as Israel or as small as a few friends. But YOU have an influence. YOU are a leader. Even if you are the child, the baby of the family, you do have an influence, right? We all do.
INFLUENCE IS LEADERSHIP. You ARE a leader.
Do you pray for the people within your circle of influence? Would you be willing to fast for them for a single meal? A single day? Multiple days?
What about the difficult question of children who walk away from the faith of their parents? I don’t have a magic bullet. There is no easy answer. If you are a parent, you know we must be extremely reluctant to blame parents for the decisions of children. Children make their own decisions–and the Holy Spirit deals with them in His own mysterious ways (Romans 11:33, Ecclesiastes 11:5, TLB).
But as parents, can we lead like Moses? Are we doing what Moses would do?
Moses fell down on his face, crying out to God for the children of Israel. Moses fasted for these people, though they made him furious. Can you fast for your children? Can you fast for those you love? Are you praying earnestly for them? Do you keep a written prayer list?
God, make us leaders who pray and fast for those we lead. May we lead the way Moses led.
ΑΩ
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