Navigating Rough Seas - Moses

Week 1 – "Leadership is Tough" 

Exodus 3: 10-17

“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,

the name you shall call me

from generation to generation.”

“Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’”

Like Moses, we are all leaders. Moses was sent by God with a specific task to bring His people out of Egypt to avoid oppression. Every job we do or mission we face is one sent by God.

Being a leader is difficult no matter who you are leading or what mission you are set to accomplish. As leaders it is easy to doubt our own abilities or put too much pressure on ourselves. Even Moses, who God spoke directly to, doubted his ability to persuade the Israelites to follow him due to trouble he had speaking. He was likely saying, “God, couldn’t you pick someone who does not have a speech impediment?” Sometimes we might find ourselves saying, “God, couldn’t you pick someone else who has more experience, who has more friends, or is smarter than me?” But He didn’t. He picked you. 

God directly says to Moses and to each and every one of us, “I will be with you”. He promises this to Moses and He promises it to us. “I AM WHO I AM”, there is no equivalent to God and he is life, he does not need anyone or anything. 

If we obey God and his calling to us, he promises to bring us out of our misery and self-doubt. He does not only promise us confidence, but that we will carry out our mission. Jesus promises Moses that he will lead him and his people to land flowing with milk and honey. Now that is a promise I would trust! 

Joshua 1:7, 9 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go…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.”

Discussion:

1. Think back to a time you doubted yourself in your job? How did it affect your ability to lead people around you?

2. Why did God choose Moses and not someone with more self confidence?

3. What is the difference between being confident and prideful? Think about which one comes from God. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I pray that I can obey your law and commands always. You are who you say you are and I trust the promises you have made for me and my future. You have given me the strength and courage to lead others. I pray that if I lack confidence, I am reminded of your servant Moses and the success you promised him. You are so good God. Thank you. Amen