What matters most gets talked about most. For me, I talk a lot about mentoring. I teach it. I advocate for it. I practice it, and I even write about it. Recently, I published a book on mentoring, Mentor Me. I wrote about Jethro who masterfully mentored Moses. To drive Jethro’s timeless mentoring methods home, I introduce my readers to my most influential ministry mentor, George.
Though I have studied Jethro and Moses’ story countless times before, one biblical phrase still strikes me: “Moses agreed to stay with the man” (Ex 2:21). It sounds a bit benign, but it is laced with potency. The context behind this verse was, after Moses fled from Pharaoh, God led him to Jethro, who became his lifelong mentor. Just think about it. The Bible reveals no positive father-figure in young Moses’ life. His closest father-figure was the maniacal Pharaoh, who, given the chance would have drowned baby Moses in the Nile River. Forty years later, Pharaoh hunted down Moses to kill him for killing an Egyptian slavedriver. Turns out, Moses wasn’t ‘above the law’ like the rest of Pharaoh’s household.
Like a fugitive running for his life – from, don’t miss this, 'dear old dad’ – fatherless Moses providentially met Jethro. Bible history proves, this nondescript fork in the road turned out to be the most definitive turning point in Moses life. “Moses agreed to stay with the man.” No more running, no more hiding, and no more isolating for Moses. From now on, “Moses agreed to stay with the man.” And, it would seem, after staying with the man for 40 years, Jethro’s influence stayed with the man, Moses. Such is the impact of master mentors.
Who’s mentoring you these days? Also, if you are longer in life and leadership, who are you mentoring? Look back at your life. Who mentored you? Jake spiritually mentored me, and George ministerially mentored me. Besides them, Harold and a few others mentored me at critical moments, leaving deep impact upon my life and leadership. I’m so glad I didn’t run; I’m so glad I stayed with the man.
Last Sunday I met a young man who’s searching for a mentor. Maybe you are too. Men, as we come together next Sunday June 8 at 12:30pm for our Men’s BBQ, may you meet your mentor (or mentee), and then may you stay with the man.
