After the Exodus, leading the Israelites wasn't just about miracles and divine guidance. It was about… people. And as any leader knows, people can be complicated.
We read in Legends of the Jews, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, observed the heavy toll the constant demands of the people were taking on Moses. He saw Moses tirelessly judging disputes, day in and day out. And Jethro, wise as he was, knew this wasn't sustainable.
The people, it seems, were… well, let's just say they were enthusiastic participants in the art of complaining. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, they were incredibly litigious, willing to spend a fortune just to win a trivial argument. Can you imagine? They'd drag out lawsuits, always claiming to have more evidence just waiting to be presented.
But it wasn't just about legal squabbles. They were also… spiteful. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, they criticized Moses no matter what he did. If he went out early to gather the manna (the miraculous food provided by God), they accused him of trying to grab the biggest portions. If he went out late, they said he was just looking for attention. And if he tried to avoid the crowds altogether? They accused him of making it impossible to follow the commandment to hone – to benefit from – a sage.
Talk about a no-win situation!
Moses, understandably, was at his wit's end. "If I did this you were not content, and if I did that you were not content!" he exclaimed. "I can no longer bear you alone." He even invoked a blessing, a plea really: "The Eternal, your God, hath multiplied you, and behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. The Lord, God of you fathers, make you a thousand times so many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!"
Moses recognized he couldn't do it all alone. Jethro’s advice, to delegate authority and appoint judges, was a turning point, a crucial step in creating a functioning society. It was a recognition that even with divine intervention, leadership requires practical wisdom and the ability to empower others.
This story reminds us that leadership, in any context, is never easy. It’s filled with challenges, criticisms, and the constant need to balance competing demands. But perhaps the greatest lesson here is the importance of recognizing our limitations and seeking wise counsel, just as Moses did with Jethro. And maybe, just maybe, it’s a reminder to cut our leaders – and ourselves – a little slack.