“By faith [Moses] left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for he persevered, as one who sees Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NIV)
As do most Halls of Fame, the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith commends exemplary individuals. Those who lived their faith well include Noah, Abram, Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob. Perhaps the most prominent figure in the Hall of Faith is Moses, who not only stood for his convictions, but also lead his people out of slavery…despite his best efforts to refuse the assignment!
Exodus chapters 3-4 chronicle God’s interaction with Moses at the burning bush, which included this calling.
“The Israelites’ cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:9-10.
Praise the Lord! Finally, the Israelites will be set free, and Moses had the distinct privilege of being God’s instrument to achieve that outcome.
Moses’ response did not exude this level of enthusiasm. “Who am I?” (3:11). “Who shall I say sent me?” (3:13). “What if they don’t believe me?” (4:1). And, “I am not a good speaker.” (4:10). In case these responses were too subtle, Moses’ finally made plain his true reaction. “Please, Lord, send someone else.” (4:13).
Yes, Moses wanted to remain anonymous and unburdened with the responsibility of leading. It was a rather inauspicious start to a Hall of Faith lifetime achievement commendation. Thankfully, for Moses and all of humanity, God’s patience ran supreme and He addressed each of Moses’ objections with assurances. Moses stepped out in faith, and (indeed) the rest is history.
Are you being called of God to lead? We lawyers are often a “hot commodity” when it comes to board vacancies and other leadership positions. Our skillset, education, and professional prominence make us obvious choices for organizations looking for leaders.
If God is behind such a calling (and we need to assess that foundational question first), it is likely because He sees qualities in us that we fail to see in ourselves. Like Moses, we may feel unqualified, intimidated by the moment, ill-equipped, overwhelmed, or simply scared. Yet, Moses proceeded in faith despite his various initial objections.
May we have faith to trust that God knows what He is doing. And when He calls us to lead, may our faith inspire the courage to do so, giving the Lord the vessel He seeks to use for His ultimate purpose.
