Leadership Lesson SD 2-26-23

Exodus 18:17–23 KJV 1900

17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

The reward of having the right leaders

Moses Father-in-law Jethro come to visit Moses, and Moses tells hin all of the wonderful things that God has done and is doing for him and the people.

He tells Jethro of how God had delivered them from Pharoah and out of Egypt.

He tells him of the hardship that had come upon them in their journeys and how that the Lord delivered them.

the Bible tells us that Jethro rejoices for all that God has done, and after hearing the testimony of God’s deliverance from Pharoah, he declares “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods”.

He then offers a sacrifice unto the Lord.

If you are the son-in-law, hoping to win your father in law’s approval and respect, the visit is going well.

But Jethro’s visit isn’t over.

The next morning, Moses rises up and from morning to evening he sits and listens to all of the disputes, concerns…Moses weighs in on every issue ranging from the trivial to the urgent.

Jethro approaches Moses and asks him…why are you doing this yourself? Two things…

You are wearing yourself out

The needs aren’t going to be resolved.

He gives him counsel.

Moses, your focus needs to be in two places:

You represent the people unto God

You instruct, you teach and you train the people how walk in the way that they must walk.

And then, the portion of this passage…and the wisdom of Jethro that I really want to lean on for a few minutes.

Exodus 18:21–22 NASB95

21 “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.

Qualities of the right leaders

1. Able men - they are capable

Capable means that they were leaders that possessed the ability. They were competent.

Moses was going to choose some that would lead 1,000. Whomever he chose had to be capable of leading 1,000.

He was going to choose some to lead hundreds. they had to be capable to lead hundreds.

Whatever the responsibility that Moses was going to give, the leaders had to be capable…competent…they had to possess the ability to meet the demands of the role

Here at Living Hope, it may not be a numerical demarcation, but there are defined areas of responsibility that you have been placed over.

Because I believe that you are capable leaders. You have demonstrated competence in the skills that are required to lead in the space that you are leading.

2. Men who Fear God

To fear God means that we reverence God.

It means that we put Him first in our lives

It means that are mindful of God in the choices that we make…not just here within the walls of this building, but in our jobs, in our relationships…in our homes and in our families.

3. Men of Truth

Honesty

Integrity

Speaks of the virtue and the character of these men.

They are people of integrity!

4. They hate dishonest gain

Translation - they cant be bribed

They don’t lead with favor. They lead ethically and with equity!

There are some leaders that lead with partiality toward the teachers pet. Others that lead with partiality toward the underdog.

We need to be leaders that lead without partiality…That we are going to fair and impartial in leading.

5. let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge —> They need to be leaders that can discern what they can handle, and what they can’t.

Leaders that run every issue up the flagpole are’t really leading.

Leaders that try to deal with issues that aren’t theirs to deal with, equally aren’t leading.

Leaders that can lead in their lane! that can handle the responsibility that they are placed over and lead it well…they are a tremendous source of strength, not just to the pastor, but also to the people.

And Jethro says…choose these leaders…the capable leaders, these God-fearing leaders, these honest leaders, these ethical leaders, these responsible leaders.

And then he says…the first phrase of vs. 22 “Let them judge the people at all times”. In other words…find people that are qualified to lead…and then, let them lead!

the reward of qualified leaders that are leading at all times is that Moses is able to represent the people unto God..able to teach and to train the people in the way that they should walk…and there will be peace among the people