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The Isolation of Leadership

Numbers 11:14

The servant of God may be isolated by leadership. In 11:14, Moses spoke of the heavy burden of trying to carry the destiny of so many people. That burden can weigh leaders down. We say it is "lonely at the top," and that is true—but the leader is not just at the top; he or she is also beneath the heavy burdens of those in his or her charge. And if those at the top are really at the bottom, here is another paradox to ponder: the one who walks out front must turn his or her back on those who walk behind. Leadership does isolate. Leaders of great churches and large ministries can be very lonely; that comes with the territory.

A compensating element may come with shared leadership. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, helped Moses to see that he needed to learn to delegate some of his work to make it manageable (Exodus 18).

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