Some leadership musings on Exodus 18:1-23 that I’d like to be held accountable to…

Context
Although we cannot be sure precisely where Exodus 18 fits chronologically in Israel’s first year of freedom from Egypt, the significance of it being placed after Exodus 17 (whether in chronological order or not) by the writer is important.

Exodus 17:1-7
Water from the rock. Moses angry and frustrated with the people. Moses told by God to take some of the elders with him and strike the rock.

Exodus 17:8-16
Amalekites defeated at Rephidim. Moses’s arms being held up by Aaron and Hur crucial to victory.

Both of these stories illustrate the heavy leadership responsibility Moses had (a nation composed of nearly 2,000,000 people (600,000 men, cf. 12:37)) (and in the early part of chapter 17, some of his frustrations) and hint at a move towards sharing this leadership burden with others.

Outsider?
Jethro was a “priest of Midian” – not an Israelite. He had not lived under oppression in Egypt and taken part in their miraculous escape. He was not steeped in Israelite culture and history. He was, in this sense, an outsider.

But when Moses was on the run from Egypt, Jethro was the friend and father-in-law (for c.40 years) Moses needed. Sometimes Godly advice can come from unlikely sources – (‘unqualified’) outsiders – are we ready and willing to receive it?

Prelude
Jethro listens and investigates, verses 1-8.
Jethro praises God, verses 9-11.
Jethro gives thanks to God, verse 12.
Jethro observes, verse 13.
Jethro questions Moses, verse 14 (to help him identify the issue).
Jethro challenges (somewhat bluntly), verse 17.
Jethro explains (his previous statement) and identifies the issue, verse 18. 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 saw and foresaw: Moses and the people over-stretched. Burnt out (consumed by the tyranny of the urgent?) and the mission of God derailed.

Advice
The heart of Jethro’s advice was relinquishing control to empower others to lead. To engage, equip, and disciple the people of God in order to further the mission of God. There are five pillars.

One: Prayer
Verse 19: You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.

Disputes is also translated cases and causes or questions. Jethro told Moses to pray for the people. To do this effectively he needed to be amongst the people, to listen to their needs and understand their issues (disputes, cases, causes, questions) in order to bring them to God.

Moses, by bringing their disputes to God, was to rely on God’s strength and wisdom (not his own). Moses, by representing and interceding for the people, would increase his love and empathy for the people. It would help him to take his eyes off his own frustrations (with them) and be other-centred.

Two: Teach
Verse 20a: Teach them the decrees and laws…

Provide (intellectual) knowledge (through expounding, preaching, etc.) about what it means to live in right relationship with each other and God (since this is the summary of the Law). Explain what righteousness means in words.

Three: Model
Verse 20b: and show them the way to live…

Live the Godly life (the cruciform life) before (in the midst of) the people. Be the model and example they can follow. Help people to see what righteousness means in actions.

Four: Demonstrate
Verse 20c: [show them] the duties they are to perform.

Demonstrate the duties the people are to perform. Help them to visualise their role and responsibilities, their tasks and obligations. Provide goals and a clear job description. Good leadership shows people what is expected of them. Demonstration should come before delegation.

Five: Delegate
Verses 21-22: But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

Select people in accordance with their capability and character, with more emphasis on the latter: trustworthy (faithful), honest, wise (fear of God). The presumption is that Moses (leaders) should be able to identify other leaders. Leaders recruit others. Appoint leaders in accordance with their ability (over 10s – 50s – 100s – 1000s).

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