Exodus 18:17-24 
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” 

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. (NIV)

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There are some people who are more experienced leaders than we are, and here are those who are more adept in their walk with God than we are. It is wise for us to learn from them. 

Moses had an open door into the presence of God on several very important occasions. No one ever heard God more clearly or closely than him. Even so, he leaned in to listen to his father-in-law, Jethro, a priest in his own right. He offered sacrifices in gratitude to God for his deliverance of his people. He also provided timely advice that multiplied Moses’ effectiveness.

The deputation of leaders with the necessary abilities to manage issues of increasing complexity is a lesson still taught and learned every day. We maximize our effectiveness through team leadership, not by taking on more and more responsibility ourselves. None of us is as good as all of us. 

No single leader is omnicompetent. No single leader can answer every question, teach every lesson, and make every decision. As a poster with a boat full of athletes rowing together declared, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Leaders who do what only they can do, who equip others and assign them responsibility to do what they do better than many others, are leaders who last. They live legacy leadership. This kind of leadership answers the question Nicky Gumbel asks: “Do you want to maximize your abilities or equip ten others?” 

Exponential leadership is never confined to one person’s intellect, ability, or dedication. Exponential leadership sees what God has instilled in others and, with God’s guidance, draws out their highest and best contribution for the glory of God and the benefit of his Kingdom. 

Jesus equipped twelve men deeply. Eleven of them continued that mission. They turned the world upside down. 

Lead like Moses. Learn leadership from seasoned leaders, mentors, coaches, and trainers.

Lead like Jesus. Invest deeply in a core group who will likewise invest in others. 

“Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.”

The Ten Commandments and legal standards that followed would not have been adopted broadly without the structure Jethro outlined, and Moses implemented. 

The Kingdom of God continues growing exponentially today because wise leaders invest deeply in raising up other capable disciplemakers.

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I will learn these lessons well so that I can maximize my contribution to the Kingdom of God.

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Our Father, maximize my life through those you send me to disciple, train, coach, and mentor. Make me ever more fruitful and effective in disciplemaking and in discipling disciplemakers. Amen.