Speaker: Dr. Harold J. Sala | Series: Guidelines For Living | I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30

“Lead, follow, or get out of the way!” goes the old adage. The fact is, however, that some who should lead are reluctant to rise to the challenge. They are perfectly content to either follow, or else settle down in a rocking chair and get out of the way. The problem is, however, that God wants them to lead.

Take Moses, for example. When Moses was ready to lead, God said, “You’re not ready! Take a few laps around the desert taking care of the sheep. And that’s exactly what he did for the next 40 years. Finally, God said, “You’re ready, Moses.” And that’s when Moses said in effect, “Uh-uh, not me!”   That’s not exactly what Moses said, but it’s a good paraphrase.

Here’s the text: God said, “’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…’ 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’” (Exodus 3:10-14).

Lead, follow, or get out of the way. Like Moses long ago, many of us feel inadequate to lead, yet our failure to provide leadership creates a vacuum. Someone has to do it—whether it is in your family, your business, or your church. Like Moses, our fears and dreads latch on to that word, suppose. We paint the dreaded scenario in our minds, saying, “Suppose they won’t like me.” “Suppose things won’t go well.” “Suppose they criticize me.” And yielding to our feelings of inadequacy we chose to just get out of the way and let someone else do it.

In the beginning God made it clear that men were to provide leadership for their families by being there, by being the major provider, by leading the way, by being a role model to his kids, and a strength and defender for the whole family. “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior,” writes Paul to the Ephesians (5:23).

The image is not that of a dictator, but that of an orchestra conductor with sensitivity and care. Men who love their wives and children are a strength and help, and no woman in her right mind would object to the loving, caring leadership which God intends.

When men are not there, someone has to do it, and that’s when the burden falls on wives and single moms. Leadership by default is better than no leadership, but it often falls short of what it could and should be.

Question: Are you a reluctant leader? If you nod your head in the affirmative, ask yourself, “What are you waiting for?” One dad asked his five year old, “Son, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Looking into the face of his father, the little boy answered, “Dad, I want to be just like you!” That is the reward of leadership.

God told Moses that He would be with Him, and God honored that commitment. When a man does what is right, He can be sure that He is moving in synch with God’s purpose for his life and family.   Don’t expect to be perfect before you lead. You have to know, however, when God’s time has come to lead, to follow, or simply to get out of the way.

Resource reading: Exodus 3.