Exodus 16: 2-15 and Exodus 18: 10-27
Have you ever lifted a lid from a pot on the stove and asked out loud, “What is it?” Well you are not alone. In today’s story that question can only be answered by the careful and attentive leadership of Moses.
Leadership is a set of actionable learned skills. There are some innate gifts that help and in both stories for today Moses demonstrates his innate ability to listen and to honor. Moses listens to the voice of God. Remember how it started with the burning bush? Well, it continued in all of the stories. There is a moment for Moses to listen to God and then to share with the people. There is a moment when Moses listens to the people and offers a petition to God and the relationship between God and people continues in this way with Moses as intermediary.
Something gets noticed by father-in-law Jethro. He sees the pressures of leadership first hand and offers some suggestions. Jethro must have noticed some change in his son-in-law -perhaps he was beginning to wear the stress of his work? Jethro tells him you are going to wear yourself out being so attentive to all the people all the time. Has anyone ever told you that to your face?
Jethro continues, gets a team together, and has them determine small things in groups, ranging from small to large. If it is a big thing they should consult you, but otherwise let other people handle it. That is a leadership lesson.
Before the story of judging successfully is the story about Quail and Mana. Moses innately listens again to the cry of the people. They are on the run and are tired of eating traveling food. They want a sit down dinner and they want to take their time and savor the food. And it happens. Quail land on the camp; they kill and clean the birds. Light the hibachi and set the table! In the morning as the dew rises and the dew collects, a new gift emerges. As the dew dissipates white flakes appear and the people say “Mana!” “What is it?” Moses tells them this is the bread that the Lord provides. Eat! They do and are filled.
Moses’ innate ability to listen led to these two leadership stories. The people are fed in the first ever prefix menu – and they are satisfied. Moses listens to his father-in-law, who is concerned about his health and wellbeing, and creates a structure to expand leadership that is effective in meeting the people’s needs.