The Revised Common Lectionary lists Exodus 4:10-31 among its readings for August 31, 2026. Upon reading the passage, I find the comparison interesting. Not the Israel part. Not the time in history that God told Moses he was to be the leader and to get his people out of Egypt. It was the “No, not me” part.

Moses was scared of the Pharoah, and rightly so, as well as certain people in the land who would have killed him. He’d come to the defense of a fellow Israelite who was being beaten and killed the Egyptian. So he did what any Pharoah-fearing man would do. He fled. He went back to his father’s land and stayed tending sheep. Away from crowds of Egyptians and away from the fearsome Pharoah. Until God called him back.

God assured him that the people who wanted his blood were dead and gone, though there was still a Pharoah. God also promised to be with Moses.

Moses said to God, “I’m not very good at speaking.” He also argued that someone else could do a better job. God got upset with him and said that Aaron could go with him, that God himself would give him the words.

Did you know that the top fear of humans is to stand in front of a roomful of people and speak? I know that fear, have known it. Not that I’d want to face someone like Pharoah or any other world leader who thinks opposite to me. I can think of a few. I’m sure you can think of more than one whose company you would not want.

When I started to write, NJ Lindquist, one of our cofounders of The Word Guild, said to us as a group,

“If you’re going to write, get ready to speak.”

I still remember her words. She said,

“Get ready to launch a book, to teach writing, and to talk about writing, because people are curious.”

After some procrastination, I joined Toastmasters. I showed up week after week, participated in impromptu speaking and giving speeches. Then when I was ready to launch a book, I felt ready. It helped in my approach to storytelling too. It helps when reading a lesson in the service, in meeting people who come to my table and ask about my books, and in meeting a stranger on the road and offering a friendly hello.

Placed in Area Toastmasters contest

Storytelling in public in Waterloo Open Doors

 First book table at the hometown Fall Fair

Does it mean we never fear? No.

There is a hymn in an older Lutheran hymnal whose refrain goes like this: “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I can hear you calling in the night.” In all our new ventures, know that we do not go alone. God is with us, as he’s been with his people for ages and ages.

When we are called to something, know that God goes with us and often gives us the words to speak.