not wanting to do what God wants you to do

 

One of my pet peeves about TV shows and movies (now that we're on the subject) concerns the writing.

It irks me when scripts have none of the casual, reactive talking that occurs between regular people.

To my dismay, no superhero -- before they zoom off to fight to save everything in the world -- ever engages in the necessary chore of first clearing their schedule, or getting someone else to cover their shift at work ("Uh yeah, we were supposed to get together for drinks tomorrow, but now I have this thing I sorta GOTTA go do -- any chance we could we reschedule?").

No one called to a quest in a movie ever has to first:

-double-check when their flight leaves -- 

-put away clean laundry -- 

-charge their phone --

-empty the dishwasher --

-pack any bags --

-try to talk their way out of having to do the thing --

-use the bathroom one last time --

-and then use the bathroom again because they still feel like theygottago pee.

They're just ready to drop all of life, and do the thing.

Yes: I realize I'm nitpicking about ... the realism ... of movie scripts (no one said pet peeves couldn't be unreasonable).

So this is my roundabout way of saying I'm thankful for verses in the Bible such as Exodus 4:13, the one above. The Lord calls Moses to a new challenge: he's gotta go get enslaved people and lead them out of that awful way of life. Their captors will fight to keep them enslaved. 

If this were a movie script, Moses might respond by dramatically walking forward, gaze steady. He'd nod, the music would soar.

And we'd know that he was committed.

But no -- Moses has to talk it out (today, we'd diagnose him a "verbal processor").

So the third and fourth chapters of Exodus narrates the conversation between the Lord and Moses. What can we glean about God from this conversation?

a) It's actually a conversation. The Lord is not one to give an order, and then treat follow-up questions as a lack of faith or waste of time. Quite the opposite. Some of us may have experienced receiving tasks from our parents or other authority figures in this way. The only acceptable response was to listen and obey, but not to ask for or give our input. That is not how the Lord speaks with Moses.

b) The Lord doesn't pump Moses up by pretending his weaknesses aren't there. Moses notes that, like many of us, he despises public speaking.

Some of us, when we admit insecurities to our friends, we can almost predict their overly-optimistic comeback: "Oh, that's ridiculous! You're awesome at [whatever task you know you're not remotely awesome at doing]. You're totally gonna do fine!!"

The Lord doesn't try to puff Moses up. He just says, "I will be with you, and will teach you what to say."

c) Then, the kicker. Moses says, "Oh my Lord, please send someone else."

Moses doesn't want to do it.

Be honest: sometimes the Lord calls us (or asks us) to step into situations we want no part of.

But there it is. We gotta go do what the Lord asks of us to do.

Don't hear what I'm not saying: I'm not saying that every conflict or wrong that breezes across your attention span demands you drop what you're doing to address it.

And yet ... there are times when the Lord will call you to speak, with love and respect, what needs to be said. Or to do, with love and respect, what needs to be done.

Or to confront, in love and respect, that which you'd rather ignore.

Or to care for, with truth and love, that which you'd rather disdain, or remain indifferent toward.

Or to reach out, in love and respect, when you'd rather stay mad and avoid it.

It's understandable to not be wild-enthused about every single thing the Lord may be calling you to do. If you gotta first talk it out with God, by all means, talk it out.