The Death of a Leader

Deuteronomy 34:5-8 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

A few weeks ago a leader died in Burnsville, Minnesota. His name was Bob Emanuelson. Bob was a godly man with a godly wife. The two of them raised 6 children during the 70’s and 80’s and, like many parents, had to deal with the challenges of these times. Bob was an even-tempered, kind, and loving person. He told his kids and grandchildren, “I not only love you, but I like you.” Bob was a knowledgeable and skilled businessman. He was an avid fisherman, loving his lake like it was one of his offspring. He gave much of himself to the church as well. At the ripe old age of 81, God called him home. 

"Oh that we might be mourned like Moses--And Bob."

I knew Bob for 40 years yet I only saw him occasionally when our family ties would bring us together at Bob’s family cabin in northern Minnesota. Years ago, my sister married Bob’s son, and through this marriage I occasionally had time to talk with Bob when our paths would cross up north. 

"I never knew a man who listened as well as Bob did, and who, at the same time, was so interesting to listen to. What a gift!"

Yet, even though I did not see him often, I cherished the times I got to talk with him. Why? Because listening to him was so interesting. Even if the subject was something as boring as what lure he used to catch big walleyes, he had an incredible ability to draw every listener into the subject at hand with his own stories and how he chose to tell them. Yet in the end, his interest in what others had to say dominated the direction of the conversation. I never knew a man who listened as well as Bob did, and who, at the same time, was so interesting to listen to. What a gift!

The Legacy of a Leader

Even though distance often makes it legitimately impossible for us to attend loved ones’ funerals, when Bob died, there was no deciding on whether or not to go. We drove the 400 miles to Bob’s wake and funeral. At the end of the evening of the wake, an unusual thing happened. Bob’s wife, their children, most of their 29 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren, extended family and some friends formed a circle, and for over one hour, they gave testimony to him as a father, a grandfather, a friend and a husband. Everyone had a eulogy that needed to be expressed. There were many tears and laughter in this celebration of his earthly life. The celebration continued the next day, when at his funeral, hundreds came to pay their respects.

I know that Bob was not a “Moses.” He did not lead tens of thousands of people to a promise land. However, Bob was a leader, a family model, still guiding his family through their grief over him in the last weeks of his life. One day, not knowing if he had days or weeks to live, he ask one of his sons if the son was going to be OK. Bob thought of others until the day he died. While Moses’ weaknesses were written for all to see, Bob’s weaknesses remain unknown to me. God called Moses home when his strength still remained. Bob’s strength slowly escaped from his body till he died. However, I sense that even now, about 30 days later, memories of his leadership still remain a model for even a distant friend like me to covet.

What Will Our Leadership Legacy Be?

Friends, how long will our leadership be missed and mourned? 3 days? 30 days? Years? Will our leadership even be missed and mourned, or will some celebrate the absence of our lording over them?

Oh that we might be mourned like Moses—and Bob.