He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.1
Moses was put in a reed basket as a child, sent down the river in the hopes that he would be spared the slaughter of Hebrew children by the Egyptians. He was found by not just any Egyptian but by the Pharaoh's daughter. He would be raised in the Pharaoh's house but would forsake all to follow God. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.2
Abraham and his people were chose by God, not because of their number, nor that they were a great race, in fact they were outcasts, God compares them to a newborn baby thrown away into a field to die, a child that was loathed, despised on the very day it was born.3 Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his only son, and Abraham believed God and it was counted as righteousness unto him. God said to him, for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.4 God would sacrifice his only son.
Moses was put in a reed basket as a child, sent down the river in the hopes that he would be spared the slaughter of Hebrew children by the Egyptians. He was found by not just any Egyptian but by the Pharaoh's daughter. He would be raised in the Pharaoh's house but would forsake all to follow God. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.2
Moses was aware of his unqualified abilities and convinced God to let Aaron speak for him. But he would stand in the gap for the people, even to the point that he told God that if he would not spare his children that God would have to remove his name from the book of life. He loved the people greatly. He never saw the promised land, wondering in the wilderness with rebellious people, his life was not an easy one. Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth, God chose to speak to him directly.5 He was a great leader.
In Good to Great by Jim Collins he writes of two distinct characteristics of great leaders. First, they have a perseverance in them, a will to accomplish the mission. Secondly, they have a humble spirit. Is this not what God requires of his leaders, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.7 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.8 Does not God require us to pursue excellence in his things? I know such a man and such a group that teaches such things.9 People only follow those they trust. Like a good shepherd with his sheep, a trusting relationship.
David was left out by his father Jesse when God was to appoint a King from his sons, he was not considered worthy to be present. A little shepherd boy who could not even fit into the armor of king Saul, slew a great giant of a Philistine, with a lowly weapon of a sling shot. Jesus would refer to himself as the Good Shepherd. Like David he would leave the 99 to go after the one lost sheep, he would fight a bear and a lion, and a giant to protect the sheep of God. David was a great leader.
Jesus chose the disciples, most were not of noble birth or occupation but fishermen and a tax collector.10 But this is how God works, it is the despised and weak things of this world that he uses, such glorifies him. Paul reminds us of such, For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;11
They were not great leaders in a worldly fashion, no they were not popular among the people, all but one were martyred for their faith, But Jesus chose them to establish his church on earth, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;12 God ways are not ours.13 God chose what is foolish in the world ... to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.14 Great leaders understand such a principle.
The full deity of the godhead existed in Jesus, through him all things were created. He was God and the very people he had loved and set a part rejected him They knew nothing of his grace. But he became flesh and dwelt among us, he was the good shepherd and for the joy that was set before him, his sheep, he endured the cross, conquering death. We would not know its sting but would experience his amazing grace. He humbled himself, becoming a bond servant, to the point of death on a cross, he lived and died to serve the people he loved. Such is a great leader.