RUNAWAY LEADER

Exodus 4:10-15
10 Moses said to the Lord, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." 11 The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." 13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." 14 Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and He said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.

I used to joke with my close friends about being a world-class runaway. If I was making plans to get married, I would probably wear track shoes and bolt from the altar like Julia Roberts did in the movie Runaway Bride.

I guess it's not so much the commitment that I have a problem with, but rather my opinion of my ability. When I was in college, the leader of our campus ministry wanted me to take over his position. I rejected the task because I felt I was not up to it and was also afraid I couldn't juggle studies with ministry demands. When involved in Overseas Christian Fellowship while pursuing my degree in Australia, I was approached to help out on the student committee.Again, out of fear, I turned down the request.

As I look back, I realize how many opportunities I have missed to serve the Lord because I wasn't looking at the task from His perspective.

We read in today's Bible passage that Moses angered the Lord with his refusal to take up the task God had appointed him to do (Exodus 4:14). The Lord had to send Moses' brother, Aaron, to help him because Moses felt he was not eloquent. (I wonder how Moses could have been slow of speech, for he had been educated in Pharaoh's court; see Acts 7:22.)

I believe that Moses was "once bitten, twice shy." After his failed attempt to "save" his people from the Egyptians, he ran away to be a shepherd in the desert of Midian (Exodus 2:11-15). Then the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush and called him to the task again. Moses became afraid and lost confidence in his ability. He failed to realize that God is the one who enables those He calls.

Let's not falter because of our fears, but rather depend on God whom we can trust. He can take away our runaway tendencies and give us a quiet confidence for the journey. --Joanna Lim

DESTINATION POINTS

* As I read Moses' story in Exodus 2-4, what do I learn about God's calling of Moses?
* When was the last time I was approached to do something I felt was beyond my ability?
* When I serve in church, do I depend on God's strength or on my own talent and abilities?

LINKS:
How Can I Be More Confident About My Work?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/questions/confidentwork.html

bottom line: Do God's work God's way.

soul journey