God tells Moses to appoint 70 elders to help him lead the people. The lesson for a leader is that he cannot do it all alone. He has to delegate. Also, he has to recognize that he has to prepare the next generation of leaders.
Delegation, Succession, and the Burden of Leadership
Now for a quick devar Torah.
In this week’s parashah, Moshe reaches a breaking point. The burden of leading the entire nation has become overwhelming. Every problem, every complaint, every dispute seems to flow through him. Moshe turns to God and says, in effect, “I can’t carry all of this by myself.”
God’s response is instructive. He tells Moshe to appoint seventy elders—capable and trustworthy people who can share the burden of leadership. Moshe will remain the leader, but he does not need to personally handle every detail.
This teaches an important lesson about leadership. A good leader does not have to know every intricate detail of every issue. Instead, a leader must surround himself with capable people, experts in their fields, and trust them to provide accurate information and sound advice. The leader’s job is not to do everything. The leader’s job is to make decisions based on good information.
There is a famous story told about the transition from President Jimmy Carter to President Ronald Reagan. Carter, who was known for mastering details, spent considerable time explaining the inner workings of the federal government to the president-elect. At one point Carter noticed that Reagan was not taking notes. He asked if Reagan wasn’t interested in all these details. Reagan reportedly pointed to one of his aides and replied, “That’s his job. My job is to make decisions.”
Whether or not every detail of the story is exact, the lesson is sound. Effective leadership requires delegation.
Later in the parashah, another leadership lesson appears. Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp. Some people are alarmed and bring the matter to Moshe. Shouldn’t he be worried that others are emerging as prophets? Isn’t this a challenge to his authority?
Moshe’s answer is remarkable: “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets.”
Moshe understood something that many leaders forget. Leadership is not about preserving your position forever. No leader lasts forever. A leader’s responsibility is not only to lead the current generation but also to prepare the next one.
The appearance of new leaders should not be seen as a threat. It should be welcomed as a sign that the future is being secured. Moshe knew that one day he would leave the scene. The Jewish people would need capable leaders after him.
These two episodes teach two essential principles of leadership.
First, no one can do everything alone. A leader must delegate authority and rely on trustworthy people who are committed to serving rather than seeking glory.
Second, a leader must develop the next generation. Without successors, there is no future. Without new leaders being trained and encouraged, even the greatest achievements will not endure.
Moshe saw himself not as a ruler but as a servant of the people. He shared responsibility, empowered others, and welcomed future leaders.
Those are lessons worth remembering in every organization, every community, and every generation.
Leave a Reply