Moses had a problem. He was doing everything.
Every morning, he sat down to settle the people’s disputes. And every evening, the line was still out the door. Morning to night, day after day, Moses was the judge, the jury, the counselor and the complaint department for a nation of hundreds of thousands.
Then his father-in-law, Jethro, came for a visit. He watched Moses for one day and gave him some free management consulting:
“What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”
Jethro’s advice was simple. Teach the people God’s ways. Then choose capable, trustworthy men and put them in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them handle the small cases, and bring only the hard cases to you.
Moses listened. And it worked.
It’s worth remembering that Moses never wanted to be a leader in the first place. When God first called him from the burning bush, Moses gave excuse after excuse. “Who am I?” “What if they don’t believe me?” “I’m not a good speaker.” And finally, “Please send someone else.”
But God sent Moses anyway. And the reluctant leader became one of the greatest leaders in history.
So, what is leadership? It isn’t doing everything yourself. It isn’t being the smartest person in the room. Leadership is listening to good advice, raising up other leaders, and sharing the load.
A great leader doesn’t just get things done. A great leader helps others get things done.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank-you for every opportunity You give me to lead. Thank-you for giving me the leadership of Moses, so that I will listen to wise counsel, raise up others, and never try to carry the load alone. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Wikipedia: Moses, Jethro (biblical figure), Burning bush
Look-It Up:
Jethro’s advice is found in Exodus 18:13-26.
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”
Moses’ excuses at the burning bush are found in Exodus 3–4.
Free Bonus:
Jethro was a priest of Midian. He is also called Reuel in Exodus 2:18.
Business schools still teach Jethro’s idea. Today, they call it “delegation” and “span of control.”
Old-timers will remember Charlton Heston as Moses in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 film, The Ten Commandments.