The Jewish tradition offers a fascinating answer, one beautifully illustrated in the story of Moses, the great lawgiver.
Before he led the Israelites out of Egypt, before the burning bush, before the Ten Commandments, Moses was a shepherd. But not just any shepherd. His time tending flocks in the wilderness was a crucial training ground, a proving ground, for the monumental task that lay ahead.
According to Legends of the Jews, a masterful compilation of rabbinic stories by Louis Ginzberg, when Jethro gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage, he made Moses swear an oath. Jethro, wary of history repeating itself with his own daughters as it had with Laban, wanted assurance Moses wouldn't just up and leave with Zipporah without permission. So Moses swore he would stay. And so he became Jethro's shepherd.
But why a shepherd? What's so special about that job?
Well, the tradition teaches us that God doesn't hand out important positions to just anyone. As Ginzberg tells us, God tests a person in small things before entrusting them with big things. Moses, like David before him, had to prove his worth by caring for sheep.
And how did Moses care for those sheep? He didn't just drive them out to pasture and let them fend for themselves. He was attentive, thoughtful. He led the lambs to the tender grass first, then the older sheep to the herbs, and finally the strong ones to the tough grass that was left. He understood that each animal had different needs. As it says, "He that understandeth how to pasture sheep, providing for each what is good for it, he shall pasture My people."
There's a beautiful story that really highlights Moses's compassion. Once, a little lamb ran away. Moses followed it, and when he finally caught up, he saw the lamb was exhausted and thirsty, stopping at every stream. Moses, filled with empathy, said, "Poor kid, I knew not that thou wast thirsty, and wast running after water! Thou art weary, I ween." He then carried the lamb back to the flock on his shoulders.
It was this act of kindness, this genuine care for a single creature, that caught God's attention. God said, "Thou hast compassion with a flock belonging to a man of flesh and blood! As thou livest, thou shalt pasture Israel, My flock."
Beyond just caring for the sheep's well-being, Moses was also careful to ensure they didn't cause harm to others. He made sure they grazed in open meadows, preventing them from wandering onto private property. He was mindful of the bigger picture, the impact his actions had on the community around him.
In fact, Jethro was so pleased with Moses's service that during the forty years Moses worked as his shepherd, not a single sheep was lost to wild animals, and the flock grew incredibly.
But there's another layer to this story. Moses felt drawn to the desert. The text says his "prophetic spirit" foresaw his own greatness and the greatness of Israel would manifest there. The desert, a place of hardship and testing, but also a place where God's wonders would appear. It would be the place where the Jewish people would eventually be freed from slavery, as well as Moses's final resting place. This is all according to Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews.
It was while wandering in the desert that Moses eventually reached Mount Horeb, also known by other names that reveal its significance. It's called the "mountain of God," where the law was revealed; "Basban," because God "came there"; "mountain of humps," because God rejected other mountains; "mountain of abode," because it's God's desired dwelling place; "Sinai," because God's "hatred" against the heathen began there; and "Horeb," meaning "sword," because the law was a sword against sinners. Each name, a facet of its holy nature.
So, what does this all mean for us? The story of Moses, the faithful shepherd, teaches us that leadership isn't about power or position. It's about compassion, responsibility, and a willingness to care for those under your charge, big or small. It's about understanding that even the smallest acts of kindness can have profound consequences. And, perhaps most importantly, it's about recognizing that true leadership begins with service.