The Leadership ChallengeSample

Challenge 3

MOSES AND THE ART OF DELEGATION

READ: Exodus 18:1–27

As you will see, as you get into the story of Moses, he has a very difficult task. In addition to managing a huge population on the move to a new promised land, he is also the spiritual leader and judge of a frequently grumbling and even rebellious people. In this account, Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro, sees that at the rate Moses is going he will burn himself out in no time. Offering a bit of sage advice, Jethro suggests that Moses delegate his responsibility of hearing routine disputes to men who would serve as “chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” Moses can then save his attention for bigger matters and focus more on representing the people before God and teaching them what God required—the tasks he is uniquely called to fulfill.

Effective military leaders understand that successful completion of the mission is a team effort. An essential role is delegating authority to accomplish the task at hand and supporting the team members. Leaders who fail to delegate will likely burn out, and they will also fail to develop others in their unique gifts and perspectives. What clues does the reading give us about the type of leader Moses was to select? What areas in your life need to be delegated to keep you from burning out?