Moses, Meet Your New Management Consultant
As I completed my reading through the Bible, I continued in Exodus 18 today. One section caught my attention—the advice from Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. The scene describes a moment of practical problem-solving that feels familiar, even outside of its historical context.
The Burden of Doing It All
Jethro visits Moses and watches as he spends his entire day resolving disputes among the people. Seeing this, Jethro points out an issue: “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.” (Exodus 18:17-18, NLT). His recommendation is straightforward—Moses should delegate. He suggests appointing leaders to handle smaller disputes, leaving only the most complex cases for Moses. With this system in place, both Moses and the people would benefit.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
This passage raises some interesting questions about leadership and workload. It’s easy to assume that if something is important, we must take care of it ourselves. But Jethro challenges that notion. Delegation is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity for long-term effectiveness. Without it, burnout becomes inevitable. Another detail that stands out is Jethro’s role as an outsider. He is not an Israelite but a Midianite priest, yet his observations hold weight. Sometimes, an external perspective can highlight things we overlook. Even Moses, in his leadership position, needed someone else to point out the strain he was putting on himself.
The Takeaway: Share the Load
Reading this, I find myself wondering—where in my life am I taking on too much? Are there tasks I could be sharing with others? More broadly, how often do we dismiss good advice simply because it comes from an unexpected source? Rather than viewing leadership as solitary, this passage presents it as something that works best when responsibility is distributed. By sharing the load, we not only protect our own well-being but also create a more sustainable system for everyone involved.