To Lead Or To Follow ?

בס"ד

When Eldad and Meidad receive the gift of nevuah they are still "in the camp" and have not made their way to the Oheil Moed [see Bamidbar 11:24-29]. Yehoshua is incensed by their prophetic pronouncement that he will lead the people after Moshe Rabbeinu's death.  Moshe's reaction, however, stands in stark contrast to all other breaches of conduct that are mentioned in this week's parasha (the people who desired meat, the complainers about family life, those who ran away from Har Sinai, etc'…) Moshe hears this news and isn't fazed at all. No condemnations, no chastisements. Why not ?

In truth, we must first determine why Yehoshua was so upset. He felt that even if the prophecy of Moshe's demise and his succession was correct, it shouldn't be publicized "in the camp". Moshe still has plenty of time to lead the people and telling the nation that he has 'one foot out the door' could only undermine him. This is also why Yehoshua only suggests a jail sentence, a punishment that is at beis din's prerogative. If they were indeed false prophets, Yehoshua would have called for their heads!

Moshe Rabbeinu, on the other hand, still has a lesson or two to impart to Yehoshua. Completely unperturbed by this seeming insubordinance, Moshe tells Yehoshua that there is a lesson in Jewish leadership he must never forget. It's not about the image you sell to the people and it's not about effective management of your human resources. A Jewish leader is still just a messenger. A messenger of Hashem. And if that is the message that Hashem chose to prophetically share with Eldad and Meidad, then it must be the right thing to say. Wouldn't it be great, waxes Moshe, if Hashem's spirit could rest on each one of the people in such a direct fashion ? Essentially, teaches Moshe, the grandest lessons would come straight from Hashem with no earthly emissary intervening at all.

Apparently this lesson made its mark. There is no further discussion regarding Eldad and Meidad's "infraction". And Yehoshua, who does succeed Moshe eventually, is actually referred to as being the 'moon' to Moshe's 'sun'. And there is no greater expression of a mere messenger of reflected light than that.

What lesson can we glean from this ? We are all leaders at one point or another, whether in our families or our peer group. We must never forget that it isn't our wishes or desires that govern our 'leadership' overtures, it is only one goal, our service as G-d's messengers to His people.

Hatzlacha !!