Impact - Day 32

Day 32 – Leading From the Middle

Numbers 13:25-28, 30 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there…”

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

Let’s travel to Numbers and the story of the twelve spies to fully understand the context of Caleb’s interaction in our previous reading. Here, he has been sent with Joshua and ten other representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel to search out the Promised Land and bring back a report. As Numbers 13 begins, there is no indication that God wants the spies to evaluate whether or not to proceed. Instead, His command is to send this delegation to explore “the land I am giving the Israelites.” (v2). But, by the time they return from Canaan, there is a split opinion about proceeding. Caleb and Joshua are even more excited about their future, while the others are quaking in fear.

This creates a showdown, with two on one side and ten on the other, as they debate the possibilities in front of the onlookers. Ultimately, the negative voices win, and there is a groundswell of pessimism.

Have you ever been deeply convinced of the direction a group should go, only to find you are in the minority? It can be a gut-wrenching experience. Different options are available if you’re the boss or the owner or hold specific power over the group. You might be able to force the group into agreement. But your options are more limited when you lead from the middle, side-by-side with others of equal power. In these cases, you are left to rely on raw influence, the most basic element of leadership. Let’s be honest; far more of life’s situations have us somewhere in the middle.

So, Caleb and Joshua attempt to persuade through logic and appeal. Their words are passionate enough that it isn’t immediately clear which way the group will lean. Slowly and inexorably, the group tips to the negative point of view and makes the wrong decision. 

In the coming days, Caleb will reflect on this experience with clarity of conscience and no misgivings. He held his ground in the face of threat and ridicule. He knew his stance was right with God. And, though it takes decades, God will reward his faithfulness and fulfill His promises.

1. What are the contexts in your life where you have the power to make unilateral decisions without argument? 
2. Think of a decision you saw clearly, but because it was a group decision (two or more), you lost the argument, and things went a different direction than you wanted. How did that make you feel? If the results bore out your perspective, how did you react?
3. How difficult is it to express your opinion to a group that has recently rejected your idea(s)?
4. Is there a group you believe God wants your perspective to be heard more loudly? How do you think you should go about that?