Shout Out to All You Aarons

Meredith Porter has been working on her job for 4 months. She has always felt unqualified for the job and for that reason insecure in her abilities. However, she is starting to get into the flow of operations. Her office is a door away from Megan whom she’s become very close with. She is able to vent when necessary and receive help when she doesn’t want to bother the director, Mr. Grant.

Mr. Grant calls Meredith in for a meeting. She immediately rises from her desk and walks into his office. He sits behind a tall mahogany desk typing at his computer. He waves her in without refocusing his attention.

“Have a seat Ms. Porter”, he said finally looking from his computer screen

“Meredith, I need you to takeover the development team for the Community Social Project. We need new energy to pull it out of the slump it‘s in. It’s going to take a lot of work. You’re going to have to boost the morale of the existing team members as well. They are feeling defeated by all the recent loss and change. You can handle it though. Sue will have the details on your desk before lunch.”

Meredith thought, how in the hell am I supposed to lead

this team that has been established for years? How could he expect me to pull this off? There is no way, no way! She bolstered up enough courage to say,

“Mr. Grant…umm are you sure? I’ve only been here 4 months. I’m barely learning protocol and this job calls for me to do things I have no experience with. I just don’t know if I’m ready. I don’t know if I will have all the answers they will be seeking and…”

“Ms Porter. I’ve been watching you over the last few months and you’ve shown initiative to handle the load you have already been given. You will get used to the public speaking that comes with it. When you have questions, you can come to me and I will give you the answers. There is no way I would leave you ill equipped. By lunch!” And he turned back to his computer screen.

Meredith began to walk away but self-doubt consumed her.

“I hate to turn down an opportunity like this but maybe there is someone else more qualified. Like someone who is already on the team.”

Mr. Grant, fully agitated and angry with Meredith’s lack of confidence took a deep breath to compose himself. He didn’t want to scare her off, for he knew that he needed her to complete this task.

“Fine, I’ve seen you work well with Megan, she will assist you. I will give you all the reports that you need and you will inform Megan of what to say to the employees. She will support you with all presentations, etc”

Grant’s phone rang and he dismissed Meredith with a wave as he answered.

As days and weeks went by, Meredith met with Mr. Grant and was updated on every detail needed to assist in pulling the program out of its slump. Meredith then informed Megan and they would stand together before the team. Anytime trouble arose Megan was there with Meredith as support and as a spokesman when needed. Mr. Grant always spoke directly to Meredith and there were times that she felt comfortable enough to speak on Mr. Grant’s behalf without Megan. Not long after Meredith and Megan were able to motivate the team and began to bring the Social Project to a better position to serve the community.

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I would like to compare Mr. Grant, Meredith, and Megan to God, Moses, and Aaron. The story of Moses and Aaron is a long one carried through several books in the bible. The story above and the following commentary focuses on their story between Exodus 3 to around Exodus 14.

In these chapters I am able to witness God’s provision through the support of a brother. All so Moses could complete the task that he was called to.

God spoke to Moses in Exodus 3 and gave a command. And like Meredith did and like we often do, Moses was like who me?! Oh nah I ain’t ready for all that. Who am I to make something like that happen? What we learn through these passages and throughout the entire bible is that God will not tell us to do something without equipping us.

Many of us have had our Moses moments. Where we are asked or commanded to complete a task that we feel is entirely too big for us. We may feel unqualified compared to our peers, insignificant, scared, or unsure of our capacity to carry out the task due to doubt of God being able to use us. We, like Moses, may ask God to choose someone else because simply we don’t feel ready. But I love how God, even through irritation, has the tendency to ignore our pleas for replacement! He knows something that we don’t, we are finally ready to move into another level in Him and He decides to use us anyway! So He pushes us into it, giving us the tools we need along the way.

I like how Mr. Grant equipped Meredith with a teammate to assist her in completing her purpose in this leadership capacity. I love how God did the same for Moses giving him his brother to go on that journey with him.

Moses felt more comfortable allowing someone to speak for him. And Aaron did this without dispute. God continued to speak directly to Moses even though he lacked faith in the God that was in Him in the beginning. What a blessing that He can still use us through our doubt!

God doesn’t just throw us into something we are not ready for. When we are 5 years old we don’t enter school in the 7th grade. No, we start at preschool or kindergarten and learn the basics. We get peer buddies at our tables to help keep us on task and learn social skills. We get teachers that are there to educate and provide support. As we grow and show that we’ve learned all information essential to that grade level, we are promoted to the next. If not we’re retained. And sometimes we have done so well we are able to skip a grade or two.

God is our educator and along the way He provides us with peer buddies and tutors that help us reach our next grade level. Moses was allowed to operate in a level that was likened to where he was in the faith at that time. Throughout the chapters he became more comfortable and was able to move forward in his walk, speaking directly to Pharaoh and the children of Israel at times.  Something that in chapter 4:10 he didn’t think he could do. By chapter 4 verse 13, Moses was able to stand with confidence in the Lord and tell the children of Israel “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today”. Look at the growth.  

How do I see Aaron in these few passages? I see Aaron as a friend, a brother, a resource. Someone who was able to stand with Moses during the rough times as well as the good. He was obedient and trusting of the God who was in Moses and assisted in the furthering of his ministry without sabotage. He was faithful to Moses. Aaron helped to ease the load that Moses felt through his support…through his actions. In these few chapters Aaron spoke when told to speak and he acted when told to act. He did not dispute what Moses said and allowed for God to use him as well. This gave Moses a chance to become more comfortable with his position given by God while prepping Aaron for his future. And in Exodus 14 you see Moses speaking, acting, and leading the people across the Red Sea not needing help from Aaron.

I admire and am so grateful of the Megan’s and Aarons that God has placed in my life over its course. As I stepped out of my comfort zones and into where God was leading me, He equipped me. Whether it was going to college, rededicating my life to Christ and getting back into church (the 2nd and 3rd time), or professionally, entering my career field. He has placed Aarons in my life that have assisted with improving my comfort level in my abilities to the point where I am able to operate on my own faith. When I go into another level, the same Aaron or maybe a different one is there with me through the process once again. And what is even better is taking what I have learned and becoming an Aaron to someone else. This is a blessing!

We can’t do everything by ourselves. Be accepting of those God has placed in your life as faithful help! Praise God for the Aarons in your life! And Aarons, praise God for using you to uplift the people who need you!

Our Aarons are those people that support us when we are too scared to step out on our own. The ones who God trusts with our ministry to be obedient to the God that is within you so that His will can be carried out. Thank God for the ones who will stick by you as you stand up to those with power in the world and proclaim the word of God. For those that will stand with you when everyone else walks away from you due to their own disbelief. Praise God for knowing that even when we are resistant, it doesn’t mean our hearts do not want to serve Him and for Him to give us a way to move up to where He wants us.

I’m not saying fear, doubt in God’s ability to use us, and excuses are desired by God but I am saying don’t be discouraged if you have been in that place. Don’t feel like it is too late because you once feared walking in the calling He has for you. Know that He will equip you with all necessary resources to get you where you need to be. Open yourself up to Him now and to the help He sends. It’s not too late! Watch Him provide you with the people and resources that you need to fulfill the task at hand.