By Lilly Kramar
The summer has begun, and there are many new opportunities and people to engage with! With these might come new roles and responsibilities to step into. With many fears and unknowns to confront, we can look at an Old Testament predecessor to see how to handle it. By looking at Exodus 3 and 4 and Moses’ response to God’s calling, we can find the proper way to step into leadership.
Remember God’s Identity
We must remember the display of holiness and the declaration of promise that God showed to Moses in Exodus 3.
Exodus 3:6 says,
“Moreover He said, ‘I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.”
I encourage you to remember God’s faithfulness! He led with faithfulness concerning Abraham and Isaac, and He will remain faithful to you in His unchanging nature. Have this mindset of remembrance as you stand before your calling now.
Exodus 3:12 says,
“ So He said, ‘I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’”
Adjust Your Attention
We can see how Moses responds to God’s power and His promise. Rather than being filled with hope, Moses focuses on external matters like how they would respond.
Exodus 4:1 says,
“Then Moses answered and said, ‘But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, “The Lord has not appeared to you.”’”
Enduring Word’s commentary analyzes this verse, stating, “It was good when Moses had no confidence in the flesh; but it was bad that he then lacked confidence in God. In view of the burning bush, the voice of God, and the divine encounter, there was no place for Moses to say, ‘But.’” How often do we forget the promises declared by the Lord and the strength that they hold? It can be easy to look at the circumstances in front of us rather than fix our eyes on God walking beside us. Therefore, I urge you to shift your focus back onto the Lord.
Trust Not in Your Own Capabilities
There appears to be a twofold approach to this; we can see how Moses is defiant and argues with the Lord regarding his ineloquence, but we can also see how the Lord uses what we have at hand and how He destroys and transforms!
Exodus 4:2 says,
“So the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’
He said, ‘A rod.’”
The Lord is sovereign in the way He leads and with those, He calls. We may often feel inadequate for the position handed to us. Still, He is mindful and merciful in the way He uses what we have: we have experiences, tools, and stories that we have gathered over the years that He can use in magnified ways to glorify Himself. Do not trust your capabilities but in how He can use them. Take a look at Moses’ doubtfulness of his speaking capabilities:
“Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ So the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’” – Exodus 4:10-12
Let us look at this example and not follow it. This statement of doubt ultimately reveals Moses’ unwillingness to step into the plan God had for Him. Moses had a minimized view of himself and projected it onto God. Let us refrain from seeing God in such a poor light! In our inadequacies, the Lord can shine all the more.
Prepare
As I step into my own leadership position at the university where I study, I am doing something now to prepare and store up Scripture in my heart to defend myself from the enemy’s lies! Store the truth of God and the Christ-like identity of who you are in your heart. Hold fast to these and remind yourself often.
Psalm 119:11 says,
“Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.”
Obey
Thus, rather than continuing to argue with God and ultimately claiming you would rather have Him send someone else, I urge you to step boldly and faithfully into your leadership role! The Great I AM is with you and leads faithfully. And ultimately, in your obedience, worship! The Lord hears you and looks upon you with favor. Therefore, lead with faith and the proper knowledge of who God is and what He has done before, with a good outlook on your circumstances and capabilities, with a prepared and obedient heart.
And in closing, Exodus 4:31 says,
“So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.”
Scriptures quoted from the New King James Version. Photo by Payman Toodari on Unsplash.
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