Crisis Management
Do you ever feel the path you are on is not right, or the plan you are following is not working?
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’ - Numbers 21:4-5
In today's reading form the Book of Numbers, Moses finds himself in need of God's help in managing his people. They are restless and growing angry with the plan.
They are impatient. We want to get to the promised land faster, they may be saying, and if that is not the case, then let's go back.
I have to admit that I have had that feeling at times in my life, when the plan suddenly looked like it would fail or the direction I was headed seemed wrong.
What God does in the case of the Moses uprising, though is surprising. Instead of appeasing them, he sends serpents who kill some of the people.
Wow!
This is the path I set you on, God may be saying, follow it!
How do we know that we should stay the course rather than change direction? We may encounter difficulties along the way, but that doesn't mean we are on the wrong road. It may just be a bit rocky and bumpy.
When the people protest and then encounter the serpents, Moses prays to God for help. He doesn't pray for himself, but for his people. The mission takes a back seat to the safety of his flock, and I think that is the message in today's reading.
God gives him a way to be the healer of those bitten by snakes, and that support for him as a leader changes the picture entirely.
Moses comes away better off than he was before, with the people believing in him as a leader, abandoning their complaints, realizing they need him to guide them home.
It is a strange turn of events, with the poisonous serpents, but as a parable it works. How many leaders have found strength and support in helping their people through a crisis?
Sometimes the obstacles in our path make us stronger. In this case, it worked for Moses and his people. They came together after the disaster of the snakes.
The rally may not last long, though. It takes good leadership to keep the team on track, and that takes work and commitment.
As we venture forth along our paths, let us seek the help and support that God can offer. And let us realize the road may be rocky and the obstacles may lie ahead, but with faith, we will get what we need to overcome all of the things that block our path.
And through the crises, big and small, we persevere, grow in strength, and move on, hopefully better than we were before.
That's life.
Carry on.
More to come...