So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

Exodus 6:9

After Moses’ initial conversation with Pharaoh, the cruel tyrant punished the Israelites by increasing the difficulty of their work. When Moses complained to the Lord, God reassured him, promising that he was in control and that he would soon rescue his people. But when Moses delivered this good news to the Israelites, “they refused to listen anymore” (v. 9). Why did they rebuff Moses? Exodus explains: “They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery” (v. 9). The Hebrew could be translated more literally: “because of discouragement of spirit and the hardness of their slave labor.”

When people resist our leadership, it’s tempting to assume that they have a bad attitude. This is true whether you’re running a corporate board meeting or trying to get your teenagers to do their homework. But there are times when that which holds people back is not defiance, but defeat. They are simply too tired or too discouraged or too disappointed to try again.

When I became pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church, one of my first assignments was to lead a capital campaign to fund the building of a new sanctuary. I discovered, much to my chagrin, that several of my key leaders were not supportive of this project. At first I was angry and hurt. But as I listened to them, I realized that they were disheartened because a previous capital campaign had not gone well. They did not need admonition, but understanding; not rebuke, but healing. Paying close attention to the reasons for their resistance to my leadership enabled me to care for them and be patient with them. In time, most of these leaders did, in fact, support our campaign and building project. I’m glad that God helped me to be sensitive so that I might be a more compassionate and effective leader.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: In your leadership, have you ever experienced something like what happened to Moses in this passage? When? What did you do? What helps you to be compassionate with people when they’re resisting your leadership?

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for this glimpse of Moses’ relationship with the Israelites and their resistance to his leadership. And thank you for the insight into why they refused to listen to him.

Help me, Lord, to be a sensitive, compassionate leader. May this be true especially when people aren’t willing to follow my leadership. Whether I’m at work or at home, whether I’m leading in person or through writing, give me a compassionate heart for those I’m leading. When they resist, help me to see what’s really going on with them.

Today I pray for other leaders, for government officials, for business executives, for pastors, and for parents. Help them especially when people resist their leadership. Give them hearts to understand those they have been called to lead, so that they might lead with effectiveness and Christ-like compassion. Amen.