Please Send Someone Else

“But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”” Exodus 4:13 

You don’t have to read much of the Bible to know that Moses was one of the greatest leaders in all of history. But as the verse above highlights, it didn’t start out that way. You can read this story in Exodus 3-4. Moses is tending sheep in the wilderness with no aspirations of being Israel’s leader, so he is surprised when he hears God calling him from the burning bush.

When God tells Moses to will lead Israel out of slavery his initial response is, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  Actually, that’s not a bad question to ask when being given a big assignment. But no matter what God says, or shows him, Moses resists until he finally just says, “Please send someone else.”

But God is patient with him and develops Moses into an outstanding leader. At the end of the story, in Deuteronomy 34:12 the Bible says this about Moses: “For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”

Moses was a tough act to follow, but consider these words of encouragement God gave to his successor, Joshua: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Perhaps you have been called by God to lead and are reluctant to take the assignment. Like Moses, you feel like saying, “Please send someone else.” But before you give up reread Moses’ story and remember that where God guides, he also provides. As he promised to Joshua, he will be with you wherever you go. Just seek his will and follow his lead.