From here on out I’m going to split my writing endeavors. There’s still one or two more things I’d like to share from Exodus 18, and from there I intend to move to other parts in Scripture. But I’m definitely going to work on deeper personal projects, and adding value to existing collaborations.
– Word of Light, and Life – February 27, 2024 (64/365)
Been a while since I worked on this. But in the light of all that’s going on regarding what they ask of us from church, and the additional self-imposed pressure surrounding the day I officially turn 4 decades of existence in this miserable reality… Well, here I am, again.
To recap all we’ve covered so far: Ideal leaders ought to keep working on their skills of observation, as well as their capabilities of providing meaningful feedback. They represent our God before the people, and they also represent the people before God, functioning both as prophet and priest… but the focus shouldn’t be on the specific role. No, the underlying, foundational skill that allows them to choose and perform which role will always be communication – after all, it is communication that is involved in both observation and giving feedback.
And while all this sounds simple enough to digest, it gets even simpler, by way of understanding that any communication that we do perform, is all under the guidance and tutelage of the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Truth, who Himself guides us into all Truth.
We have the Holy Spirit and His power to direct others to Truth, as He directs us to all Truth.
Consequently we have Christ, the Living Word and the Word of Life, also as our living Knowledgebase, and our walking, talking, breathing Manual of Operations. It’s not to say that we as Christians are not supposed to write down our manuals and statements and other forms of documentation – No, on the other hand, we write what we write based on the Truth of Christ: As mentioned He is the Living Word, He is the Word of Life, but He is also the Author – the Author and Finisher/Perfecter of our Faith.
Before I get to ‘over-spiritual’ or sound all religious about all this, let me just reduce it all.
Leaders communicate well, whether it is in observance, or in giving feedback.
Leaders understand the value of Knowledgebases, Manuals of Operation, and other Procedural Documentation.
Let’s keep going. Exodus 18 continues:
Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves.
On top of everything we established, let’s look at what else a Leader looks like. It is preferred that this said leader is chosen from the group he or she is to be handling (‘men from all the people’); an ideal leader is internal, versus an outside hire who has to take extra time to get to know the group, and THEN gain their trust.
It is necessary that this leader has a healthy fear of the Lord – and when we talk about ‘fear’, we’re talking less about terror, and more of reverence: Believing that God is who He said He is, He’s done what He said He did, He’s doing what He said is doing, and He will do what He said He will do.
At the very least, we would say that this leader has his priorities straight and understands that there are greater powers than himself in play.
Finally, we see that the leader ought to be ‘trustworthy and hate a bribe’ – Or, simply put, no bribe is big enough to purchase his or her trust. I believe the fear of the Lord plays a big part in a leader’s trustworthiness and reliability.
You know, the more I’m writing into this, and the more I’m thinking about what to write next… I feel as if these things should, at the very least, apply for supervisory roles for call center operations. And I say this because of the next few virtues I’m going to be pointing out.
Fast-tracking here. Next, we see that these leaders have a clear responsibility. They have a specific number of people they are to watch over, and they prioritize and focus on their people, being more consistent than adamant regarding their decisions and judgments (‘at all times’).
Finally, communication comes into play once again, in two ways – in addressing the matters within their scope and capability, but also in knowing which issues are too great for them. These leaders demonstrate communication in their observation, feedback, and now their escalation.
If we were to keep all these things in mind, we see the following things happen:
So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
Everyone will be content and capable with the loads that they have, and those in higher positions will have less to worry about, and more mental ‘space’ to think and pray about greater things. God will be acknowledged in more things, leaders, as well as leaders of leaders will have more thoughts established, and more paths directed… and the people will be at peace.
We’re told to designate quantifiable things as Key Performance Indicators, but I could sum it all up into two things that come to mind, as I reflect on all this. They may not be measurable at first mention, but the sign of a good leader is his or her clarity, and the peace of his or her people.
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.
Moses took Jethro’s advice, and the latter then departed, leaving, knowing that his son-in-law had taken in his feedback, and applied it.
I guess that’s another lesson to learn – leaders know when to listen, and when to move.
So, putting it all together, in the light of all of Jethro’s feedback to Moses in Exodus 18:
Leaders communicate well, whether it is in observance, in giving feedback, or in escalation.
Leaders understand the value of Knowledgebases, Manuals of Operation, and other Procedural Documentation – this is especially true when it comes to the following:
- Establishing and maintaining trust and harmony among those they are given charge over.
- Being consistent in their actions and reactions when issues and opportunities arise.
Finally, leaders lead themselves well. They have their own priorities straight, and they are trustworthy with themselves – not moved by others, but on the contrary, they themselves move others.
Leaders are good communicators – to others or to themselves through their words, written and/or spoken.
Now with all of this seen, and all this compiled, the path I have here will direct me to Matthew 10 (Christ’s charge to His disciples / followers in the New Testament) and Ephesians 3 (The Apostles’ standards). While I’m looking forward to seeing new concepts of leadership in these parts of Scripture, I am more excited to see what matches with what we already established.
Until the next post, God bless us all.
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