Bible Study #14
Jethro on Leadership
Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. Instill also in us reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that overcoming all worldly desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all things pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the Light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give the glory, together with Your Father, without beginning, and Your All Holy, Good, and Life- Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 6:6; Ephesians 1:18; 2 Peter 2:11)
Review. Moses led Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and into the desert.
Exodus 18: Jethro teaches his son-in-law about delegation and good leadership.
Why did God’s prophet listen to a foreign priest?
St. Augustine. God spoke to Moses, did he not? Yet Moses very prudently and humbly yielded to the advice of his father-in-law, foreigner though he was, with regard to governing and directing such a mighty nation. For he realized that from whatever intellect right counsel proceeded, it should be attributed not to him who conceived it but to the One who is the Truth, the immutable God. (Lienhard & Rombs, p 94).
St. John Chrysostom. [Despite the things he had done, Moses] felt exactly as if he had been an ordinary person. As a son-in-law he was humbler than his father-in-law; Moses took advice from him and was not indignant. Nor did he say, “What is this? After such and so great achievements, have you come to us with your counsel?”
On Leadership and Delegation
St. Gregory the Great. Moses, who speaks with God, is judged by the reproof of Jethro, a man of alien race, on the ground that he devotes himself by his ill-advised labor to the earthly affairs of the people. At the same time counsel is given him to appoint others in his place for the reconciling of quarrels, so that he himself may be more free to learn the secrets of spiritual matters for teaching the people. (ibid)
Acts 6: 1-4. See also e.g. Mark 6:7; Matthew 18:18-20; John 14:12; and Matthew 28:19.
Seventy Leaders. This is given in Exodus 24:1–2, 9–10. Matches the number of the “Sons of God” that lead the nations after Babel (Deuteronomy 32:8-9; Genesis 10), the number of gods in the near-eastern pagan pantheons, and the number of disciples Christ ordains (Luke 10:1).
Bill Marianes. It is the challenge of every Priest and church leader to ensure that his or her Parish gives every parishioner the opportunity to maximize his or her commitment of time, talent, treasures and tithes for God’s work and to fulfill their own stewardship calling. If everyone lives their stewardship callings through their church community, their Parish can better live its stewardship calling and there is no end to what is possible and what can be accomplished. (abridged from stewardshipcalling.com)
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What happens when our leaders try to run everything themselves?
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What happened to Moses and the Apostles when they tried to do everything themselves?
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Why did Christ delegate? Can’t God do everything Himself (He is omnipotent)?
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What is the biblical model of leadership? Can it really work for us? Are there downsides?
Citations are from Lienhard, J. T., & Rombs, R. J. (Eds.). (2001). Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
NEXT WEEK: No class. During Lent, Presanctified Liturgy is at 7PM. There will be a lesson on the Old Testament reading during the service.
