SOLUTIONS TO THE FAULT FOUND IN MOSES' LEADERSHIP STYLE 2
19 LISTEN NOW TO MY VOICE; I [Jethro] WILL GIVE YOU COUNSEL, AND GOD WILL BE WITH YOU: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.
20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.
21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
22 AND LET THEM JUDGE THE PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. THEN IT WILL BE THAT EVERY GREAT MATTER THEY SHALL BRING TO YOU, BUT EVERY SMALL MATTER THEY THEMSELVES SHALL JUDGE. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.
23 IF YOU DO THIS THING, AND GOD SO COMMANDS YOU, THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENDURE, AND ALL THIS PEOPLE WILL ALSO GO TO THEIR PLACE IN PEACE," "
Exodus 18:19-23 (NKJV)
If people would be appointed to leadership in the church or ministry or parachurch this pattern or principle shared by Jethro with Moses should always be considered.
This was also used in the early church in Jerusalem when there was an issue on food distribution and those who would oversee the business affairs would be appointed: "THEREFORE, BRETHREN, SEEK OUT FROM AMONG YOU SEVEN MEN OF GOOD REPUTATION, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WISDOM, WHOM WE MAY APPOINT OVER THIS BUSINESS" (Acts 6:3 NKJV).
a. If you could look at it, the issue of good reputation comes up again (Acts 6:3). In other words, there are some in the church, even among the believers, tongue talkers, who do not have good reputation.
b. And wisdom which is the product or byproduct of the fear of God, mentioned by Jethro also comes up again (Exodus 18:21; Acts 6:3).
There is another important thing to note in the counsel of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, to Moses.
When people are appointed to work either in the church or ministry leadership, you who appointed them should endeavour to give them Job descriptions—what and what to do. The people who would be appointed by Moses should be given the assignment to: " . . . JUDGE THE PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES [serve the people as judges or solve the disagreements among the people]. THEN IT WILL BE THAT EVERY GREAT MATTER [which they could not handle] THEY SHALL BRING TO YOU, BUT EVERY SMALL MATTER THEY THEMSELVES SHALL JUDGE [handle] (Exodus 18:22 NKJV).
In the Job descriptions that would be given to the appointed lay-workers or leaders, you should specify what they are expected to do, how they are expected to do the work, and the person whom the report of their work or what they did should be submitted to. All these must be stated and made clear, so that everyone of them would know what is expected of him or her.
What would be the outcome or the result of this organization?:
a. The work would be made easier for Moses: " . . . SO IT WILL BE EASIER FOR YOU" (Exodus 18:22 NKJV). He would be able to concentrate on his primary assignment; teaching the people and taking their matters to God in prayer (Exodus 18:19,20).
b. The workload or the burden of the work which was solely on you would be shared with newly appointed layleaders or workers: " . . . FOR THEY WILL BEAR THE BURDEN WITH YOU" (Exodus 18:22).
The last thing mentioned by Jethro is, Moses should take to the advice or counsel, If God however commanded him to do it: "IF YOU DO THIS THING, AND GOD SO COMMANDS YOU" (Exodus 18:23 NKJV).
Other translations put it thus:
"IF YOU AGREE WITH MY IDEA, AND IF GOD COMMANDS YOU TO DO IT . . . ."
Exodus 18:23 (Easy English Bible)
"IF YOU FOLLOW THIS ADVICE, AND IF THE LORD AGREES . . . ."
Exodus 18:23 (the Living Bible)
Now, the point here is that, whatever counsel given to you by someone you revere or you are relating with as a mentor or spiritual parent should still be taken to God for His approval. A good idea is not God's idea!
What Jethro said is educative and edifying, worthy of being practiced or implemented, but, he told Moses, he should still get God's approval on it; whether to apply or implement it or not.
There are some mentors or spiritual parents who would counsel you and by all means they would want you to do whatever they have counselled you to do. That is wrong!
Since the mentor or the spiritual parent is not God, his or her counsel cannot be absolute. There could still be some deformities in the counsel given.
Jethro was sincere enough, being a man of integrity, he said; with all I have said, endeavour to do it only If God did approve it—If He commanded you to do it: "IF GOD COMMANDS YOU TO DO IT . . ." (Exodus 18:23 Easy English Bible).
"IF THE LORD AGREES . . ." (Exodus 18:23 (the Living Bible).
The reason for this last point is; I had been counselled wrongly by a mentor or spiritual father before. What he counselled me to do was good, he meant well, but It was contradictory to what God wanted me to do. I suffered terribly because of it, in fact, I was attacked and nearly died.
The issue is, If I did die, God would not hold him responsible because I knew what God told me to do. Thus, you should not just out of respect, reverence, or honour, take to the counsel of someone you revere; If you did, especially If you knew the right thing to do, the consequences might be grievous.
Thus, whatever counsel given to you by whoever, no matter how you revere the person, you should still clear it or receive approval on it from God Who is the Owner of the work.
You will not die prematurely in Jesus' name. Peace.
Note:
a. I want you to follow us for more edifying content.
b. Endeavour to share this message. God bless you.