EXODUS 18

My friend from San Antonio, Dennis Davis used to say, “When leaders lead people follow” and that is so powerfully true it deserves repeating regularly and expanded upon in all congregations.  Let’s consider one of the most prolific leaders in the Bible and see if we can glean some beneficial insights into the ministry and gift of leadership.

I believe that Moses, as most who are called to leadership in the Body of Christ, had a heart for the people.  He had the heart of a pastor/shepherd and his congregation had needs so Moses had to learn to balance in his role leading and delegating. He had to come to an understanding as to the extent of his gift and call, recognizing gift(s) in others and release them to function.  He had to learn to move from being a ‘one man show’ to a ‘facilitator of ministries’.

Exodus 18:13-18 – – Please read.

Moses, I believe, had a very good perspective of his ministry.  He understood that the people came to him.  I could accept Moses declaring:  I hear from God. The people have needs and come to me because I hear from God and I can speak to their needs.  That is wonderful, however there is a problem – – The people are lined up for miles waiting to speak to Moses but Moses hears from God so they have to get to Moses, right?

Exodus 18:16-17 – – Please read.

It is one thing to respond to the Holy Spirit but it is quite another to have your father-in-law, the priest of Midian who is not an Abrahamic Covenant person tell you what you are doing and how to correct the problem.  Picture in your mind the scene where this man is coming to the man who talks to God face to face and says, “Moses you are dumb!”

Exodus 18:18 – – Please read.

             Notice how God engineered the conversation and his first counsel had to do with the ‘physical’ and Moses’ blind side was the physical.  He had failed to recognize what this was doing to him and the people and if he had grasped it he didn’t see a solution.  Jethro said, “Moses you and the people are going to wear away!  This WON’T WORK not long term!”

 Exodus 18:19-27 – – Please read.

After this counsel, Moses began the process of establishing a new structure in recognition that the people and problems were too numerous for one man.  Moses had become the ‘bottleneck’.  He is wearing away.  The people are becoming weary.  He loves his people so he changes.  Unless and until one learns to ‘delegate’ they will never fully release their gift and maximize their potential in leadership.  You are not capable of doing it all by yourself nor did God ever intend you to.

Notice in Exodus 18:21 – “You shall provide out of the people ABLE MEN.”  Simple right!  He has over 600,000 men to choose from so he has to have a screening and training process to make this work.  It could not be appearance or popularity it had to be as directed by the Spirit of God.  He had to develop a plan to TRAIN THEM and that is sorely missing in most churches today.  He began the process of selecting those who would become Captains of 10, 50, 100, and 1000 training them and allowing them to function ministering to the needs of the people and if a problem was larger than their gift or sphere of authority they brought it to Moses.  If we are going to have leaders who lead we must have people who will become intercessors, hearts that will receive instruction and people who will accept responsibility.

The bottom line is we need men/women of God who will ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’ and make Him first above all else.  Leaders you must not only delegate but you must release those to whom you have delegated to function.  There must be responsibility, authority and accountability. 

            May God be with you as you go through your day!