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“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
- Thomas Paine (1737–1809), English-born American political activist, philosopher and revolutionary
Some of the great (arguably, some of the best) leaders of history have been reluctant.
One of the earliest was the author of the Pentateuch of Holy Writ. When, after his encounter with divinity at the nonconsumable desert bush, he thought of all kinds of reasons he should not be the one to bring the Hebrews out of 430 years of Egyptian bondage. Moses was finally persuaded when he could conjure no more excuses and perhaps could sense the impatience of the Almighty. I AM was merciful; Moses wouldn’t even have to speak; his older brother Aaron would do that for him.
As someone petrified of public speaking, I can relate.
And thus began the great Exodus of 40 years of more than 600,000 (men, not counting women and children) from one land to another. Only 2 people were recorded to have subsequently arrived in Canaan after the rather incredible journey of 40 years in the wilderness, marked by bickering, backbiting, complaining (‘oh for the fleshpots of Egypt’), soul searching, some perhaps fleeting moments of happiness, some of sorrow and not a few miracles.
Jonah (not exactly a leader, but a messenger) was also reluctant. So much so he fled what he…
