Reluctant Leadership

Preparing for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: One Day before Sunday (Year A)

Scripture (semicontinuous)

Psalter: Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b

Old Testament: Exodus 4:1-9

Gospel: Matthew 8:14-17

Scripture (complementary)

Psalter: Psalm 26:1-8

Old Testament: Jeremiah 15:10-14

Gospel: Matthew 8:14-17

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Prayer

Your voice burns within the depths of our being, O God of our ancestors, and draws us into your presence and service. Hear the cries of your people and speak a word of comfort, that we may proclaim to all the earth the glory of your name. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

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Reflection

Then Moses answered, “But look, they may not believe me or listen to me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses drew back from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and seize it by the tail”—so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand— “so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, as white as snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back into your cloak”—so he put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored like the rest of his body— “If they will not believe you or heed the first sign, they may believe the second sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to you, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground” (Exodus 4:1-9).

God is calling Moses to go to Egypt to plead on behalf of the people of Israel for Pharaoh to let his slave labor force go. In Exodus chapters 3 and 4, Moses does not appear worried about Pharaoh, at least for the moment. He is more concerned that God’s people will not accept him as actually called by God. He is a reluctant leader.

Some have interpreted Moses’s reluctance as a lack of faith. I don’t believe that is so. Moses’ engagement in dialogue with God represents an act of faith. It also reveals that Moses realizes leadership is serious business.

Moses is being asked to go up against the largest geopolitical bully on the block in the 13th century BC. The Egyptians are the major superpower in that region of the world. Moses understands the gravity of what God is asking him to do.

The best leaders take responsibility seriously. They are sober about the tasks before them. They have a healthy confidence in their abilities, but they’re also acutely aware of their shortcomings. Moses is acutely aware of his inability to speak without stammering and how that will look in front of Pharaoh’s court. But just as good leaders surround themselves with people who have abilities they lack, so God gives Aaron to Moses who will speak to Pharaoh on Moses’ and God’s behalf.

Moses may be a reluctant leader, but he will turn out to be a great leader. So much so that later generations of Israel’s faith will not be able to understand their identity apart from Moses.

Thank God for reluctant leaders.

PRAYER: On this day of rejoicing, O God of our ancestors, as we gather to break the bread, we remember that through the blood of the Lamb you redeemed us and made us pass over from death to new life. Grant that, as we celebrate your mighty deeds, we may be one with Jesus in offering you this sacrifice of praise. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

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