When I think of great men, names like Abraham, David, John the Baptist, and Paul come to mind. I doubt this guy named Jethro makes anyone’s list. But he should. Without Jethro, we may have lost the Jews and with them, Jesus! And, if he was alive today he may have written the book “Simple Church” (the one we’ve been pondering the last week) long before Thom Rainer ever thought to.
This obscure fella, Moses’ father-in-law, was…yep, the first “leadership coach”. He understood “keeping it simple”.
Unfortunately, Moses didn’t. He is so admired for his deep faith, humble spirit, and tenacity in keeping a million people together as they wandered aimlessly. But he had a temper. Remember he violently killed that Egyptian, threw those tablets down, and impatiently struck that rock. You know, the one that prevented him from enjoying the milk and honey.
Don’t we all get provoked when things get too overwhelming to think clearly? Exodus 18 provides us the first Biblical lesson on keeping it simple with Moses the student, and Jethro the coach. Moses was rapidly burning out from full time conflict resolution. Jethro asks why he allows this distractions to get in the way of his “compelling call”. Moses answers, “People come to seek God’s will.” Here’s a big blind spot for us all, Moses seemed to believe he was the only one capable of discerning and dispensing it. Wait a minute, what happened to “why me Lord” and “send someone else”. How does this self-importance infiltrate our heart so effortlessly?
Of course Jethro went on to coach Moses to appoint trustworthy men and train them to discern and dispense God’s will to groups of 1000’s,100’s, 50’s, and 10’s. Men passionate to lead, allowing Moses time for his compelling call; staying connected to God and casting His vision. Just like the book “Simple Church” encourages, Moses needed to:
- get clarity
- build momentum
- gain alignment
- keep focused.
Thanks to Jethro, Moses did get clarity on his call. He then built momentum with trustworthy men, trained them to lead and align the masses behind the vision, and kept the group focused on God’s vision.
After Jethro, Moses continued to struggle. Remember, he broke the tablets and struck the rock long after this lesson. So often we buy that lie — only we can do it. We are pulled, or allow the church to be, into roles and commitments outside our calling and then stagger under the complexity. It’s a big deal, no Jethro, no Jesus, no milk and honey.
Considering how hard it is, help us out with how you keep focused.
Ed,
Everyone needs a coach, everyone.
Moses found out from Jethro that every leader needs a team.
What Moses found out on his own, is what most pastors find out, that peoples mouths will keep them in the wilderness and will frustrate the leader.
Moses was an intercessor and a gap filler for his people. When a person stands in the gap for any cause he can get frustrated.
People have to learn how important their words are. When peolpe are murmering and complaining constantly about their leader, they as a group wont go anywhere.
I dont think Moses lost his humility. I think at first Moses was trying to shirt his calling from God, and brought up excuses. God was trying build his confidence by showing him what He can do through Moses. In Exodus 4:14 God got kind of tick off by Moses’s excuses.
As Moses fellowshiped with God and kept good people around him like Jethro and Aaron, he got that confidence to do what God wanted him to do, and be that instrument or gap filler for his people.
Ed you asked how I keep focused.
I stay in fellowship with Jesus, keep faith based encouraging people around me, keep my mouth in check.
Good post, Ed. Whenever I think about Jethro, I think about what a rare person it is who can not only help you identify where the problem is — you’re burning out — but also helped implement the solution. Words are a dime a dozen, and like Tyrone said, they can get you in trouble faster than they leave your mouth. But good solid actions that lead to improvement…that’s worth its weight in gold.
Ed - God used your post on No Jethro…No Jesus…to convict me on a similar attitude on my own heart. The self-importance that creeps in and gradually we think we are ‘all things’ to ‘all people’ - which in turn burns us out and puts a ceiling on our effectiveness. I’ve been pruned through this post…and looking forward to bearing more fruit with greater effectiveness!
andy
Andy,
Thanks for sharing. It’s an encouragement to see God at work! It surprising to observe how that inclination never seems to leave us.
Blessings as you learn and stretch to serve and lead like He did.
Ed