#58.2: Parashat Yitro – Who Taught Moses to Lead?

In this lesson you will get to know another character in the Torah, Yitro. Yitro, or Jethro, is the father-in-law of Moses. He and his family join Moses and the Israelite people after they have left Egypt and are in the desert. Yitro sees how much time, energy, and effort Moses is putting into being the leader of the Israelite people and decides to give him some advice on how to help things go more smoothly.

#1 Watch and Learn: Yitro – Moses’s Father In-Law…

  1. The storyteller suggests the unhelpful things that Yitro could have done or said to Moses. Have you ever been in a difficult situation where people kept on saying or doing all the wrong things? What kind of help would you have preferred?

#2 Read and Reflect: 

…Moses sat as magistrate among the people, while the people stood about Moses from morning until evening. But when Moses’ father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you all day?” Moses replied, “It is because the people come to me when they have a dispute. I decide between one party and another, and I make known the laws and teachings of God.”

But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not right; you will surely wear yourself out, and these people will never have their problems solved. The task of judging everyone is too much for just you.”
“Now listen to me. I will give you advice. You represent the people before God and know the laws of God. You shall seek out, from among all the people, capable individuals who are trustworthy. Set these trustworthy individuals over the rest as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you. And Moses did just that!
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  1. Think of some reasons why Yitro, a non-Israelite, who had just arrived from afar, was the only one able to see the problem clearly and offer a solution.

#3 Active Learning: Be More Like Yitro

Pretend you and a partner are Moses and Yitro. Describe to your sharing partner something that is going on in your life that seems hard or is a little overwhelming. Your sharing partner can ask questions and help you think through different ways to help make the task seem easier or accomplished in a better way. Switch roles after a few minutes. Share with the larger group, if you want, what your problem was and what the solution or new way to see things you came up with together.

 

#4: Watch and Learn: Learn to Join the Dance

#5: Review and Response

  1. Have you ever needed help that only someone “outside” the situation could give?
  2. Yitro taught Moses about delegating. Why is delegating so important?
  3. Think about times when you wish someone would do something in a different way. Did you complain about the way they were doing it or did you offer a helpful way they could do it differently?

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