Send Someone Else

Send Someone Else

Today’s Scripture Selection: Exodus 4:13

“But Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it.’”

I’ve always thought that one of the most interesting, even poignant, parts of the Exodus story is how Moses didn’t want to do the job God had for him to do.

I can identify with that.

When there is a

  • Really difficult challenge ahead
  • An unpleasant message to deliver
  • A difficult question to address
  • A frightening adversary to face
  • The very real possibility of failing

In all the things God may call us to do, for the good of others, for our own good, for His purposes, sometimes I want to echo Moses: “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

On the other hand, when I don’t shy away and when, with God’s help, I answer the “call” whatever it may be – the rewards are often so wonderful they almost defy description.

Moses had a mammoth job to do.  It wasn’t easy.  He probably thought at times, “Why God – Why me?”

And yet, Moses proved worthy of God’s confidence in him.  He was up to the task and God’s people were set free.

Come to think of it, Moses was also set free in the process.

It’s so easy to want someone else to do “it” – whatever that great task is, that God has called us to do.

Are we up to it?

With God’s help – I believe we are.

By Paul Simrell

The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program. Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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