Strong leaders need thick skin.

That can help when you're the recipient of verbal attacks.

After all, harsh criticism and constant complaining can throw a leader into a downward spiral.

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall finds wisdom in the Old

Testament book of Numbers. Moses, the celebrated leader of Israel, was taking verbal hits from

his people. They'd grown weary of their time in the wilderness, and the whining was wearing

him down. Let's pick up the story in Numbers Chapter 11. Chuck titled

his message, Grumblings Against a Godly Leader.

Look at verse 26. Two men had remained in the camp. Now that doesn't mean much to you unless you think,

remember that Moses has said, all of you come out of the camp and get together under your heads.

There are 70 men that he had appointed under God to carry the load. And there were two men that

didn't come out. The name of one was Eldad,

the name of the other was Medad. The spirit rested upon them. That's important. These weren't rebels.

They were led by the spirit of God to stay in the camp. And it says in verse 26, they prophesied in the camp.

So a young man ran and told Moses and said,

Eldad and me dad are prophesying in the camp.

Meaning what?

Well, that's Moses' job.

He's the prophet. And if anybody's going to prophesy, let Moses do it.

That is, that's the way that young man saw it. And he said, it's kind of a tattler. He said,

Moses, a couple of fellows are not getting with the program. And of all things, they're in there doing your job. Look at the next verse. Joshua. Now, that's the same one. The book bears his name.

The son of none, the attendant of Moses from his youth, answered and said, Moses, my Lord,

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