Moses and the Courage to Hear

Scripture“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”— Deuteronomy 6:4

Leadership often tempts people to speak more and listen less.The higher one rises, the easier it becomes to confuse authority with understanding. Leaders are expected to have answers, to move quickly, to project confidence. Over time, this pressure can create distance—and distance can make it harder to hear what is true.

But the Sh’ma begins with a different command: Hear.

Before Israel is told what to do, they are told how to posture themselves—to listen. Hearing is not passive; it is the foundation of faithfulness. To “hear” in this sense is to attend, to receive, and to respond.

This command applies not only to the community, but especially to those who lead it.

The story of Moses reveals a leader shaped not only by what he says, but by what he is willing to hear.

Moses listens—to God, to the people, and even to criticism. This is not easy listening. The people he leads are often frustrated, fearful, and restless. They complain about hunger, about uncertainty, about the very direction Moses is leading them. Their words are not always fair or measured. At times, they are sharp, repetitive, and exhausting.

Moses could have dismissed them. He could have silenced dissent in the name of order. Instead, he listens—and then he brings their concerns before God.

This is what sets him apart.

Listening does not make Moses weak. It makes him capable of leading a difficult and demanding community. He refuses to insulate himself from the reality of the people’s experience, even when that reality is uncomfortable.

But Moses’ listening is not only outward. It is also upward and inward.

He seeks God directly, asking in humility, “Show me your ways,” recognizing that leadership is not a fixed state but an ongoing process of formation. Moses understands that authority does not equal clarity. He remains teachable. He remains open.

This kind of listening requires courage.

It requires the courage to hear complaint without becoming defensive.The courage to hear critique without dismissing it.The courage to face truths that may challenge one’s own assumptions or decisions.

The greatest barrier to listening is often not external noise, but internal resistance—ego that wants to be right, fear of losing control, or fatigue that makes it easier to ignore difficult voices.

Moses models a different way.

At critical moments, he does more than listen—he intercedes. When judgment threatens the people, Moses stands in the gap and pleads for mercy. He carries their concerns into the presence of God, not as a detached authority, but as an advocate.

This is a profound vision of leadership: not domination, but mediation. Not distance, but engagement. Not control, but responsibility.

In light of the Sh’ma, this takes on even deeper meaning.

To lead is first to hear—to hear God clearly, to hear people honestly, and to hear oneself truthfully. Leadership that does not begin with listening risks losing its way, no matter how strong it appears.

When leaders do not listen, the consequences are real. Decisions become disconnected from reality. Communities feel unseen. Trust erodes. Leadership becomes brittle and reactive.

But when leaders truly hear, something different emerges.

Listening creates space—for wisdom to surface, for mercy to take root, and for justice to become possible. It allows leaders to respond rather than react, to guide rather than impose, and to serve rather than simply direct.

Moses’ leadership reminds us that listening is not a secondary skill. It is the starting point of faithful leadership.

To lead well is not simply to speak clearly.It is to hear deeply.

Reflection QuestionsWhat fears might prevent you from listening honestly?Where in your life are you tempted to speak instead of listen?What voices are you currently resisting—and why?How might deeper listening strengthen your leadership and relationships?

PrayerGod of wisdom,teach us to hear.Quiet what is defensive within us,and open us to truth—even when it challenges us.Give us the humility to listen to you and to others,and the courage to lead with compassion, justice, and care.Amen.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)