The book of Numbers is a very helpful study in leadership. It couldn't be any clearer that Moses was God's called leader. It couldn't be any clearer that Canaan was God's given vision. It also couldn't be any clearer that the challenges for God's leader were enormous and difficult as he led God's people toward God's vision.
The reason this is worth noting is that it debunks a false leadership narrative. That narrative goes something like this: "If we really have the person God has called, and we are really following God's vision - then it should all go smoothly and easily." I have seen this false theology of leadership expressed many times in the church, through many different statements and sentiments. "Gee, this is hard, maybe we aren't following God's vision for us." "I wonder if our leader isn't really the right person - if he/she was, this would be a much easier journey." No, there's much more to it than that simple formula.
The book of Numbers tells it differently. The journey was hard for the people and for the leaders. There was complaining and rebellion, insurrection and doubt. Moses as leader was challenged with hard decisions, dilemmas, a legion of obstacles and difficult people. My own leadership experience suggests to me that this menu of leadership challenges may be common fare. The bible tells numerous stories of God's appointed leaders dealing with one hardship after another. Talk to the apostle Paul about this - who was shipwrecked, flogged, opposed, mocked, stoned and starved.
I'm not sure where the idea of "prosperity leadership" originated. I suspect it is tied to some form of prosperity theology where God's favor is calculated through ease of life and comfortable circumstances. Summed up, this theory suggests, "If God is in it, it's going to be easy." Try telling that to Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Paul, Peter, and most of all Jesus.
Such a theology of leadership is shallow and I imagine it makes for shallow leaders, as well as shallow followers. I suspect it has also led to a lot of division in churches, as well as the forfeiture of following God's call and God's vision when things began to get a little challenging. It requires no real faith, it asks for no growth and frankly it's a model I have never seen in the scriptures.
