Leaders, Stop Carrying the Whole Load: Lessons from Moses and Jethro

“You will surely wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you.” — Exodus 18:18

Why Leaders Must Delegate

Let’s be blunt: If you’re trying to do everything yourself, you’re ignoring God’s design.

Moses tried it, and his wise father-in-law, Jethro, called him out. Exodus 18 gives us a wake-up call. God delivered His people from crushing slavery, yet Moses was enslaving himself with overwhelming responsibility.

Leaders who refuse to delegate are doing the same. You’re putting yourself back under a burden God never intended you to bear. That’s rebellion against God’s gift of freedom and rest.

I’ve written this post for myself, because I need to hear it! And maybe you do, too.

Two Reasons You Must Delegate Now

It’s for your own good

Jethro warns, “You will surely wear yourselves out” (Exodus 18:18). If you don’t delegate, you will burn out. Period.

It’s for the good of the people

When you hoard responsibilities, the people suffer. You prevent others from using their gifts and crush their opportunity to grow.

This isn’t just about productivity. It’s about obedience to the Lord who delivers from bondage.

How to Delegate Jethro’s Way

Jethro didn’t just say, “Work less.” He gave Moses a system. Leaders today must learn from this.

1. Keep Praying for Everyone

Moses still interceded for all Israel, even when he stopped handling every case personally (Exodus 18:19). Senior leaders must pray for the whole flock, whether you shepherd 50 or 500. Delegation isn’t an excuse to neglect prayer.

2. Teach Clearly and Consistently

Moses shifted into the role of a teacher, laying down principles and laws. Leaders must consistently equip others with God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:2). Set the standard so your team knows how to handle matters when you aren’t in the room.

3. Select Faithful, Godly Leaders

Moses chose “able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe” (Exodus 18:21). Leaders must be men and women of character, not just competence. It might be tempting to hand tasks to whoever volunteers first, but this might get them (and you) in trouble down the road.

4. Organize and Empower

Moses implemented a structure: leaders over tens, hundreds, and thousands. He gave them clear job descriptions. If your church or ministry or business lacks this kind of organization, confusion and inefficiency will reign.

The Bigger Picture: Loving God and Neighbor

Delegation isn’t just smart; it’s a matter of obedience. When we delegate, we honor both tables of the law:

• We love God by trusting Him and stewarding our health and calling wisely.
• We love neighbor by equipping others to serve and protecting ourselves from burnout.

Failing to delegate is failing to love.

Ready to take this seriously? Join others pursuing biblical leadership at the Biblical Evangelism Today discussion group.

Note: Generative AI was used in creating this post. First, I made an audio recording of what I wanted to say. Then, I transcribed the audio using TurboScribe.ai. Finally, I transformed the transcript into a blog post using ChatGPT, and used Grammarly’s Plagiarism Detector to ensure that it was free of plagiarized text.