In this week’s Parsha, we are told that the Jewish people began to complain. They had grown weary of the manna and demanded meat instead. In response, Moshe Rabbeinu despaired, and Hashem instructed him to appoint seventy elders to assist in bearing the burden of leadership. Moshe complied, and a Divine spirit rested upon the elders.
Interestingly, that same prophetic spirit also rested upon Eldad and Meidad, who had not been among the seventy chosen. Although Moshe had initially selected six representatives from each of the twelve Shevatim, Eldad and Meidad were excluded by lottery. Nevertheless, they too were swept up by inspiration and began to prophesy.
Yehoshua, seeing this, perceived a threat to Moshe’s authority. But Moshe responded with extraordinary humility and generosity. The Pasuk (Bamidbar 11:29) states: “Are you zealous on my behalf? Would that all of Hashem’s people were prophets!”
This gentle and gracious response stands in stark contrast to Moshe’s reaction to Korach’s rebellion, an incident we will encounter in two weeks. There, Moshe decisively and forcefully suppressed the uprising. Why the difference? Why was Moshe so magnanimous in one situation and so uncompromising in another?
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks offers a brilliant insight. People often assume that power and influence are synonymous, if not identical. Those in power, they think, naturally wield influence, and those with influence must hold some form of power. But this is not the case.
If I share my power, I have less of it. But if I share my influence, I actually have more.
In his words: Power is a zero-sum game—the more you share, the less you retain. Influence, on the other hand, is a non-zero-sum game—the more you share, the more it expands.
Moshe Rabbeinu embodied two roles: he was both a Melech (king) and a Navi (prophet). Kingship is about power; prophecy is about influence. In the case of Eldad and Meidad, Moshe saw no threat. In fact, he welcomed their help in inspiring the nation. But Korach challenged Moshe’s role as king, as the ultimate authority.
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 8a) teaches: a generation can only have one leader, not two. That’s why Moshe responded to Korach’s challenge with such firmness and finality.
Teachers and parents often find themselves in positions of power, but they are always in positions of influence. Serving as role models, encouraging positive behavior, educating, and inspiring—these acts can create ripples that extend even far beyond those directly in our care.
Moshe Rabbeinu understood the difference between power and influence, and more importantly, he lived it. And it is this which not only demonstrates leadership, but the kind of leadership that leaves an eternal legacy.
