[This is my third post of eight in my “Vintage Wednesday” series on “The Great Initiator,” re-written/updated from a blogpost back in April of 2011.]

Moses wakes up one day to the reality that he's been strategically positioned for the deliverance of his people. Taking things into his own hands, he kills a slave driver and appoints himself leader of a nation. Moses' leadership lasts for just a moment however and suddenly he's hightailing it for the desert. Forty years later at a burning bush, God initiates and Moses' dream finally becomes a reality; this time on God's terms.

That's the short version. For Moses it took 80 years to realize his dreams. And I have to ask how much time he could have saved had he followed the Great Initiator's lead earlier? He was born into a family without privilege, then moved into a most advantageous environment, and then most likely trained as a great warrior (some historians believe he led for Egypt a military campaign into Ethiopia in his younger years). I wonder if Moses woke up one day, putting two and two together, thinking—“I've been strategically placed in my world to deliver my people from tyranny!" In any case, here are several lessons for leaders to consider when processing Moses' story:

1. Waiting for God to initiate and catalyze our life mission takes patience and discernment.
2. Our gifts and abilities can grow at a faster rate than our personal character necessary for success. Developing the first two without focus on the latter inevitably leads to failure.
3. Moving too quickly on our perception of our call can lead to disastrous results and a delay in fulfilling our life's mission.

Thankfully, the Great Initiator redeemed Moses' failure and retooled him for future success. Next to Jesus, Moses is probably the meekest man who has ever walked on our planet.