People who serve in government, elected or otherwise, are often called public servants. That is a good term, for it describes what such people are to do-serve the public. Of course, we are reminded far too often that many so-called public servants are more interested in serving themselves than in actually serving the public.
We can understand why some public servants become cynical and start viewing their job as just a means of earning a paycheck. Serving people is not easy. It means putting up with and sometimes confronting angry, unreasonable, selfish people. And it often means that no matter what the leaders do, half the people are going to hate it and maybe even hate them.
Jesus said the greatest among us are those who serve others (Mark 10:42-45). Those who selflessly seek to serve others are worthy of our prayers, as are all who are in positions of authority (1Tim. 2:1-2). Their task is difficult and made harder still if we fail to pray for them.
Moses was not perfect, but he was a selfless leader of a selfish people. As such, he was a model of what we should each aspire to be (Bible, Expositor and Illuminator Union Gospel Press, Fall Quarter 2020)