The leadership lessons from Moses show men that God can use anyone to lead, no matter their past or their insecurities. Moses was a reluctant leader who made excuses, yet God used him to bring Israel out of slavery. Along the way, he learned to stand in the gap for his people, receive feedback, and share the load. God isn’t calling every man to lead a nation, but he is calling every man to lead somewhere.
God Can Use Anyone
You might think, “I’m not a leader.” Maybe you’re an introvert, or you don’t see yourself as a great communicator. Moses would understand. And his past was worse than most.
Exodus 2:11-12 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Moses killed a man and fled into the desert for 40 years. Yet God still had a plan to use him. Whatever mistakes you’ve made, they don’t disqualify you from God’s calling. Paul recognized that leadership is a spiritual gift.
Romans 12:8 …if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Not every man is called to lead large groups of people. But every married man is called to lead his family (Ephesians 5:23-25), and every follower of Jesus is called to help at least one other person follow him (Matthew 28:19-20). Many men lead well at work but fail to lead at home or in church. If God has given you leadership ability, take it seriously.
Don’t Make Excuses
When God called Moses at the burning bush, Moses had a list of reasons it wouldn’t work.
Exodus 3:11-12 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.”
Then came more “what ifs.” What if they don’t believe me? What if I can’t speak well?
Exodus 4:10-12 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Interestingly, Stephen later described Moses as “powerful in speech and action” (Acts 7:22). Fear had given Moses a distorted view of his own abilities. When God calls you to lead, he equips you to lead. He can even use your weaknesses to bring more glory to himself.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Our obedience matters more than our gifting. And obedience is serious. On the way to Egypt, God confronted Moses because he hadn’t circumcised his son, a clear violation of God’s covenant (Exodus 4:24-26). Over and over, Scripture later says Moses did “just as the Lord commanded.” Ask yourself: if people followed you where you’re going, where would they end up?
Stand in the Gap
Great leaders stand in the gap for those they lead. Moses stood between Pharaoh and the Israelites, and between the people and God. When the people were terrified at Mount Sinai, they asked Moses to speak to God for them (Exodus 20:18-20). Later, when they worshiped a golden calf and God threatened to destroy them, Moses interceded.
Exodus 32:11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?”
After all the grumbling Moses had endured, it would have been easy to say, “Go ahead, God.” Instead, he prayed for them, and God relented (Exodus 32:14). Praying for those you lead is one of the most powerful ways to stand in the gap for them, whether at home, at work, or at church.
Receive Feedback and Share the Load
Moses was trying to settle every dispute among the people by himself. His father-in-law saw the problem.
Exodus 18:17-18 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”
Moses listened. He appointed capable leaders to help and gave leadership away. That took humility, and Scripture says Moses was “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). How open are you to feedback? What would your wife, your kids, or your co-workers say? Good leaders seek it out. (For more, see our resources on biblical manhood.)
The Takeaway
God took a reluctant leader with a messy past and used him to free a nation. Don’t let your past or your insecurities become excuses. Obey God, stand in the gap for those you lead, stay humble, and be willing to receive feedback and share the load.
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