Several years ago Dan Quayle, Vice President of the United States, wrote his life story. He told of how the media continually misunderstood him. Often the media tried to make Vice President Quayle look foolish. However, those who knew the Vice President said that he was one of the most thoughtful and intelligent leaders of the time. Vice President Quayle said that the reason the press misunderstood him was that he had never had a defining moment before the press.

The success of a leader can rise or fall on the perception of the people. That was certainly true in the life of one of the greatest leaders of all times, Moses. He led the children of Israel out of their bondage and slavery. He was God's instrument in a strategic moment of history. However, Moses had an encounter with God that became his defining moment. He was a poor shepherd in the Midianite desert. While on a mountain, God revealed Himself to Moses. A bush was on fire but not being consumed. God was in the bush. Once He had Moses attention, He called Moses by name. Moses never got over that encounter with God. It was an experience that would define his ministry and life.

God revealed His character and nature to Moses. He told him, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground" (Ex. 3:5 NIV). The first attribute of God that Moses came to know was that He is a holy God. He would never get over that. When God comes, holiness comes. When we stand in the presence of God, we are standing in the presence of absolute holiness. There is nothing imperfect or impure about Him. When we encounter God, we will have to do just as Moses did - remove everything from our lives that keeps us from planting our feet and lives firmly on holy ground.

But there was another characteristic of God that defined the life of Moses - His eternal power. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He said that He was "the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God" (Ex. 3:6 NIV). Moses must have heard the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a young boy growing up. And now that very same God who had worked so powerfully was revealing Himself to Moses. Consequently, Moses was stricken with fear. He was standing in the presence of an awesome, eternal, all-powerful God. Moses would never be the same after that encounter.

But Moses also discovered that this almighty, holy God is a God of compassion. God said to Moses, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering" (Ex. 3:7 NIV). The people surely had thought that God had forgotten them, or that He didn't care about their suffering. But God showed Moses differently. He came to know God as a God of compassion and concern for His people. It was that compassion that would drive Moses to be a deliverer for the children of Israel. Moses life, ministry, and leadership would never be the same after that encounter. He met God, and he would never again be the same. He had a defining moment in his life and leadership.

The defining moment in the life of a man or woman of God will likewise be an encounter with God. After we have met Him, there will be no question what our life is all about. It will be clearly defined. Who you are and where you're headed in life and leadership will be determined by Whom you have met. It may not be what you know, but Who you know that defines your life.