Reluctance and Missed Opportunities

But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”     Exodus 4:13 ESV

So, I'm torn...

On the one hand, I can so empathize with Moses here.  God is trying to give him an amazing and important assignment.  Moses feels inadequate for the job.  I totally get it.  I definitely know what that feels like.  Sure, it's a great opportunity, but it just feels too big, too complicated, too critical, and Moses just feels unqualified.

On the other hand, I have to wonder how different things might have been had Moses accepted the assignment God was offering...

Immediately, we see that God is not pleased with Moses' response to His offer.  Moses has already given the Lord all of his excuses.  He's spelled out for God all of the reasons why he doesn't think he's the right man for the job.  But God has just finished reassuring Moses that He will be with him.  God is not asking Moses to carry out the assignment on his own.  He is going with Moses.

But after all of the Lord's reassurances, Moses is not convinced, begging God to send someone else.  

That was the wrong answer:

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses... (v.14)

The Lord was offering to use Moses in a mighty way.  God was prepared to develop in Moses everything he would need to do the task at hand.  But Moses was reluctant to obey, and so God got Aaron involved.  Sure, Aaron had good public-speaking skills, but it was Moses that God had called.

Now, we know that God did use Moses mightily, in spite of his reluctance.  But I find myself wondering how differently the journey through the wilderness might have gone had Aaron not had to get involved.  If Moses had just given the Lord a whole-hearted "yes," would there have even been a golden calf?  

Moses' reluctance to fully trust in God would continue to impact the rest of his life, ultimately keeping him from entering the Promised Land.

And so, as I have been pondering the manner in which Aaron became a crucial part of the Exodus stary, I find myself wondering what my own reluctance may have cost me over the course of my life.  I have often counted myself inadequate, turning down and/or avoiding opportunities that I deemed challenging or difficult.  I have, at times, suggested to the Lord that someone else might be more qualified or better suited for a given task or assignment.

I am truly blessed beyond measure!  Is it possible that I might have been even more blessed had I simply trusted my God?  While that's hard to imagine fully, I do have some thoughts...

I waste a lot of time and energy worrying...

I overthink EVERYTHING...

I have a knack for second-guessing most decisions...

I suspect that perpetual fatigue, indecision, and lack of focus are just portions of the price my own reluctance has cost me.

I used to teach kids a simple, three-step formula for developing the skill of following instructions: "Look at the person.  Say OK.  Do it."  

Perhaps it's time I start applying that simple formula in my own life:

1. Look to the Lord (in Scripture and prayer, remembering to listen).  

2. Say OK (not "maybe," not "let me pray about it a while longer," and definitely not "how about You get somebody else?").  

3. Do it (don't plan it to death, don't second-guess it, don't overthink it, and definitely don't worry about it).

I think we can get really caught up in worrying about outcomes, to the point that we become ineffective at actually getting things done.  (Or is that just me?)    So I'm going to try to stop concerning myself with the outcomes.  That's God's part.  Obedience is my part.  I don't want my reluctance to result in any more missed opportunities!

I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone else, but it's where my head is anyway.  After all, it's...

...Just a thought...