We live in a fast paced, competitive world that, unfortunately, demonstrates and manifests an evolutionary mindset, and by that, we mean “survival of the fittest.” As believers in the Messiah, we are not to adopt the ways of the world. In fact, Yeshua told us that we are not to lord over one another like the nations do. We could read into that statement that we should not adopt the survival of the fittest mantra. Contrastingly, we are challenged to live life as servants, not masters. 

Consider the example that’s given to us in the Torah when so many of God’s people wanted the position that had been given to Aaron. To resolve the issue once and for all, God instructed that one member of each tribe was to take their rod (symbolic of authority), write their tribal name on it and present it at the Tent of Meeting. God said that on the following morning, He would show beyond all doubt who He had chosen as priest. 

“And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.” (Numbers 17:5).

The Bible goes on to record the results in Numbers 17:8-9:

“Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.”

The rod of the man whom God had chosen produced fruit. The others did not. Unfortunately, in the Body of Messiah, there are many people who think they should lead or be the final authority on one topic or the other who have no discernible calling. Too often God’s people present themselves as a bunch of people scrambling around, jockeying for position in order to call attention to themselves. The criteria for leadership in God’s Kingdom requires that their “authority” should bear fruit. Furthermore, if it is bearing fruit, what kind of fruit is it? Is it the fruit of the Spirit or does it resemble some other spirit?

We should also consider that, among those who placed their rods in the Tent of Meeting, only one represented a man who didn’t seek the job. Yet it was his rod that budded, rendered blossoms and produced fruit. Think about that: the man chosen for the job was the only one who didn’t want the job. This could lead you to believe that reluctance to have a position of authority might be the biblical marker for those God has chosen to place in authority. 

The fact that others wanted to lead and, presumably thought they should, apparently disqualified them from being shepherds over God’s people. That kind of ambition might work in the secular world but it falls flat in the Kingdom of God. Among God’s people “survival of the fittest” must be replaced with a “revival of humility.”

Remember what Messiah said: Those who aspire to be a leader must first submit to being a servant. Therefore let us commit ourselves – not to leading, being noticed and being in the forefront – to abasing ourselves before our Master and serving Him by serving others. 

Shalom.