“Delegation is the key”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Saturday, May 11, 2024

Numbers 11: 16-17, 24-29 (Forward, p. 13) CEV p. 137

I believe that today’s Scripture lesson is especially appropriate for me, seeing as I have long been subject to something I call ‘president’s disease.’ That is the belief that no one can do it quite as well as oneself. As a result, you try to do too much and fail to delegate. And, unfortunately, far too often, when I do delegate, things fail to get done or are done in a somewhat sloppy or inadequate way. That stems from a couple of other failings on my part, namely a lack of coaching and a lack of follow-up.

Anyway, according to today’s passage. The strain and the stress of managing and leading such an unruly and difficult people were causing Moses to crack. Some of them were even ‘raising up a stink’ and causing people to be disconnected and rebellious, and so Moses implored God for help (see verses 10-15). And what God advises is help, in the form of seventy elders to share the load. You would think that Moses might have learned from an earlier episode when his father Jethro reproved him for trying to adjudicate all the legal disputes all by himself and suggested that Moses share the load. Jethro was afraid that Moses would either become exhausted or burn-out from overwork (see Exodus 18: 12-26), but perhaps Moses didn’t think of this in this new situation. Anyway, on both occasions, Moses had been subject to ‘president’s disease’, just as I have on occasion.

Underlying this good advice—from God and from Jethro-- is an assertion that the apostle Paul makes to the church in Corinth. He tells them that the Body of Christ, the Church, is not just one part, but many. And he explains that each part—or church member—has a special gift or role to play and that each is necessary for the overly functioning and well-being of the Body. And so, once again, delegation and sharing of the duties are the key. And so, the results may not always be ‘quite’ what you or I might have wanted or looked for, but so be it. Except in very serious situations where it really does make a difference that matters, it is then best just to leave it be and leave it up to God. Amen.

Forward notes: “I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the

burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself” (verse 17).

“Scripture is very clear that we are not intended to do life or ministry alone. Even one of our great spiritual ancestors, the prophet Moses, had help. In this instance, God knew that Moses needed others to bear the burden of the people alongside him.

“It is common for leaders, both inside and outside of the church, to fall into the mentality of the ‘lone wolf.’ We take pride in being independent and self-sufficient. This is also when leaders can experience burnout or commit misconduct.

“God has given us the gift of one another, of community, because we are designed to walk alongside each other, particularly when we are carrying heavy burdens.”

Moving Forward: “What burden do you need help bearing? Who will you call on today to share the load?”