Biblical Leadership: Leaders Born, Made or Called?Sample

5. What If You Don’t Like It?

As you dig in to find God’s calling, there may be this hesitation lurking in the back of your mind that goes something like this: What if God calls me to something that I’d rather not do? 

In our society, we’re told over and over again to “be all that you can be”, to “follow your desires” and “go for the gusto", but those ideas do not exactly align with the teachings of Jesus, do they? 

As we try to do our best in our careers and assignments, Bible verses like this one might make us a little hesitant about really hearing the voice of God, right?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.  – Philippians 2:3

In order to gain additional insight into God’s calling and our reaction, it’s instructive to look at the example of perhaps the greatest leader of all time – Moses.

You remember that Moses was called by God directly by a voice coming out of a burning bush telling him to start by taking off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:4-5).

You might know the rest of the story how Moses went down to Egypt to confront the Pharaoh for the release of the Israelite people; how he led these people through the sea and across the wilderness; how he met God again and again, and even how he brought the 2 tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments from God to the Israelites. But do you remember Moses’ reaction when God first called him?

Check the text in Exodus 4:1-17 to see the resistance of Moses in accepting the calling of God, even though God was speaking to him so directly.

First, Moses suggests that the Israelites might not believe that God was really sending him to help them. (v. 1)

After God gives him some tools to get past that excuse, Moses comes up with another: that he doesn’t have the right skills for the job; he can’t speak well. (v. 10)

God tells Moses not to worry, He will give Moses the words to say. Running out of excuses, Moses then flat out asks God to find someone else. (v. 13)

At this point, the Bible says that the “Lord’s anger burned against Moses”, and God ends the discussion by saying that Moses’ brother Aaron will go along to help. (v. 14)

Isn’t that how it is with us sometimes too? We get the message from God but we just don’t want to do it. 

So we come up with a whole list of concerns:  what are others going to think; it’s so far out of my comfort zone; I don’t have the right skills or opportunity.

We might even try to cut a deal to get out of this assignment with words like these: “I’ll skip this for now, but focus on my work and then give more or do this or that instead.”

Moses couldn’t cut a deal and we shouldn’t expect to either. Remember these words of Samuel to King Saul?

To obey is better than sacrifice  – 1 Samuel 15:22b

Rather than turning from God’s call, we should be honored and drive ahead, and focus on a verse like this:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  – James 1:5

Good leadership involves challenges. Just as you may challenge those you lead even beyond what they think is possible, so too God will challenge you!

Reflection / Application

1. Have you ever felt that God wanted you to move in a certain direction or take on a particular challenge, but then shied away from it?
2. Many times, we evaluate what we think God might want us to do in the same way we might approach a work-related challenge. How does Romans 12:1-2 fit with that?
3. If we’re honest, one of the reasons we’d rather not follow God’s call could be what others might think. Is that our pride getting in the way, or a valuable source of feedback?