By Olubunmi Adebayo
*As far as the stories and events of the Old Testament were concerned, Jethro was a minor character, but with great and major lessons for humanity to learn from.*
*The background information we have about Jethro are as follows :*
*1) He was the father-in-law of Moses, by the reason of Moses’ marrying his daughter by name, Zipporah – Exo 18:21.*
*2) He had seven daughters, but he never minded engaging them in looking after his flock, despite their being ladies – Exo 18:16.*
*3) He was thoughtful enough to ask his daughters to invite Moses home to come and eat bread having facilitated the fetching of water for the flock of the family, which the herdsmen of the town would normally deny them prompt access to – Exo 18:17.*
*4) He was a priest of the land of Midian, a tribe established by one of the sons of Abraham, born by Kethurah – Gen 25:2.*
*5) Being a priest to a group of people in the land of Midian, Jethro had leadership oversight over people, and was ready to deploy his experience for the use of Moses, having studied the situation around him (Moses).*
*6) Jethro was a man with deep understanding of the true God. This will come out as we make progress in this reflection – Exo 18: 19.*
*Taking a critical overview of the suggestions of Jethro, we can establish a minimum of _9 pillars of advice_ he gave to Moses that we can all learn from.*
*They are as follows :*
*1) He reminded Moses that his office was fundamentally that of a mediator between the people he is leading to the promised land and God Who had called him – Exo 18:19. And that he should so act as a mediator between the two.*
*2) He earnestly pleaded with Moses to listen to him, knowing that as a leader who had been called by God, Moses may feel he had nothing to learn again from anyone :*
*Exo 18:[19] “Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel…..*”
*Many topmost leaders hardly feel they need advice from anyone again. He sounded Moses out not to be like this. The word “hearken” and “now” as used above are urgent and compelling for a leader.*
*3) He urged Moses to teach and instruct the people he was leading on the rules, regulations and ordinances God had set up for the people to know and learn – Exo 18:20. A reminder to Moses that this was critical in his assignment.*
*4) He told Moses to guide the people he was leading on the true way to walk before God and man, so that they would not miss it – Exo 18:20.*
*5) He told Moses to show the people he was leading what exactly they must do as their assignment in this great call of God.*
*6) Moses was to appoint able leaders to lead the people on his behalf.*
*7) In choosing leaders and delegating duties to them, Moses must pay attention to the capacities and abilities of the selected leaders, such that appropriateness is put into consideration in deciding who heads the team of tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands.*
*Several thousands of years after the suggestion of Jethro on delegation and capacity, do you notice that contemporary leaders no longer operate a consciousness of this critical clause?*
*To be continued tomorrow, God willing.*
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
