Leader for God or Leader for the People

Exodus 23:1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.”2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.”3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.


Exodus 23:21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” 22 “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” 25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.

Aaron, Moses brother, was placed in charge of the people while Moses and Joshua went up to speak with God. Aaron was their leader during that time. Aaron always sought for peace among people, so much that he allowed the people's fear and worries and sinful nature influence him as a leader. Aaron knew what was correct, however in order to please the people, Aaron created the Golden Calf. In doing so, Aaron's actions to please the people intensified..leading up to verse 25 where the people of Israel were running wild and now a joke to their enemies

I don't want to be a people pleaser. I know that sometimes there will be decisions that have to be made by me as a leader. I don't want to be so heavily influenced by those I am leading that I forget who I am leading for. I don't want to compromise the truths and laws of God, in order to win the favor of man.

Lord God!

Thank You for your deliverance. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for waking me up every morning and for giving me a place to lay my head every night. Thank You for the opportunities of redemption. I pray my Lord, that I will not be a leader for the people. I pray that in my actions, in my words, in my heart, and in my mind, I am a leader for You! I will not fear the disapproval of man and I will seek his approval, but I will fear You and seek Your heart, Your face, Your will.

Amen