When Your Leadership Is Challenged: Lessons from Moses and the God Who Defends
Moses had a unique relationship with God unlike any other person in Scripture.
As Deuteronomy 34:10–12 notes:
“No prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.”
Chosen to lead a nation often rebellious and ungrateful despite God’s miraculous interventions (Numbers 14:22), Moses carried divine authority to speak on God’s behalf and guide Israel through wilderness seasons of both faith and failure.
Yet carrying spiritual or positional authority inevitably draws challenge. Anytime you bear responsibility or influence—whether as a pastor, executive, parent, or community leader—it will be tested by those who are envious, skeptical, or simply insecure. Leadership, by nature, exposes you to scrutiny.
Anytime you carry authority, it will be challenged by people who are envious, jealous, or who want to test the authenticity of your call.
When Leadership Is Challenged
Moses had proven his faithfulness and competence as a leader. Yet in Numbers 12, his authority is questioned—not by his enemies, but by his own siblings, Miriam and Aaron.
“Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife.” — Numbers 12:1
Their criticism, at first glance, seems personal or cultural. But deeper analysis suggests it wasn’t merely about his marriage—it was about his authority. As theologian W.H. Bellinger notes, their protest may have been:
“either because he had married the woman and therefore in their eyes destroyed his credibility, or because they were disillusioned with his leadership for other reasons and used the marriage as an excuse.”¹
In essence, Miriam and Aaron questioned:
“Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t He also spoken through us?” — Numbers 12:2
This was a challenge not to Moses’ competence, but to the legitimacy of his calling.
That same dynamic plays out today. Leaders are often challenged not for what they’ve done wrong, but because their position—or their closeness with God—provokes discomfort in others.
Authentic authority is always tested, especially by those who feel overlooked.
The Nature of Divine Defense
Moses didn’t defend himself; God did. The Lord summoned Miriam, Aaron, and Moses to the tent of meeting and declared:
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?”
— Numbers 12:6–8 (NIV)
In this divine confrontation, God reaffirms Moses’ authority and intimacy. Moses doesn’t need to justify himself, because the One who called him steps forward as his advocate.
There’s a profound leadership principle here:
True authority doesn’t need to self-defend.
When your calling is genuine and your integrity is intact, God—or time—will vindicate your leadership.
“He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” — Psalm 37:6
Like Moses, leaders today can rest in the truth that vindication belongs to God, not to public opinion or power plays.
Jesus modeled the same confidence before His accusers (Matthew 27:12–14)—silence rooted in assurance, not fear.
Humility and Faithfulness as Authority Builders
Verse 3 offers a striking insight into Moses’ character:
“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” — Numbers 12:3
Moses’ authority didn’t come from charisma, eloquence, or achievement—it came from humility.
His intimacy with God was built on quiet faithfulness, not self-promotion. God Himself described Moses as “faithful in all my house” (v.7).
In leadership theory, this aligns with what Jim Collins calls Level 5 Leadership—the paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. Moses’ strength was not his assertiveness but his surrender.
For modern leaders, the lesson is clear:
Authority flows from character, not title.
Influence grows through faithfulness, not visibility.
The most powerful leaders are those whose humility gives God room to work through them.
Leadership Lessons from Moses’ Challenge
Expect challenges — Opposition is a test of authenticity, not necessarily a sign of failure.
Stay humble — Character sustains authority; pride erodes it.
Let God defend what He has established — Vindication comes in His timing, not yours.
Be faithful in the hidden places — Public influence is built on private integrity.
Guard against jealousy — Comparison corrodes contentment and corrupts calling.
A Word of Encouragement
Miriam’s jealousy and rebellion led to her being disciplined, while Moses continued to lead under God’s protection. The same principle holds true today: don’t compare or compete.
Cultivate your relationship with God and remain content in the purpose He’s assigned to you.
When challenges arise, respond with humility and confidence, knowing that God defends the humble and vindicates the faithful.
“The greatest leaders are not those who demand honor, but those who live in such a way that God Himself honors them.”
— John Maxwell
Reflection Question
When your leadership is misunderstood or challenged, do you respond with defensiveness—or with the quiet confidence that comes from knowing your calling?
A Short Prayer for Leaders
Lord, help me to lead with humility and strength.
When I’m misunderstood or criticized, remind me that You are my defender.
Teach me to respond with grace, to stay faithful in my calling,
and to trust You to validate what You’ve established.
Amen.
Summary
Authority is not self-assumed—it’s bestowed and sustained by God.
Like Moses, leaders who walk in humility and intimacy with Him can trust that their defense doesn’t depend on their voice, but on His.
Citation:
¹ Dallas Seminary Faculty. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty. Edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck. David C Cook, 1985.
About the Author
Dr. Terry La Masters is the President & Co-founder of Forward Leader, a gospel-driven movement equipping leaders to break barriers, multiply impact, and lead culture-shifting change—rooted in Christ, fueled by faith, and built for mission. Through Audacious Leadership, he helps leaders live boldly, think deeply, and lead faithfully in a complicated world.
He holds a Doctorate in Christian Leadership: Ministry Leadership and has served in ministry and leadership development for over 30 years.