The Aaron Principle

Being a leader isn’t about taking on other people’s responsibilities. Being a leader is about supporting people as they fulfill their responsibilities.

We see this through the leadership of Aaron in Exodus 17:8-13.

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword (NIV).

There are a two primary components that led to Israel’s victory in this story: Joshua fighting and Moses holding up the staff. While Aaron could not fight for Joshua nor hold the staff for Moses, he still had a role to play. It was Joshua’s responsibility to fight. It was Moses’ responsibility to hold the staff. Aaron supported them by holding Moses’ hands up.

In leadership, we can’t take on other people’s responsibilities. However, we can still find ways to support them.

Think about the people you lead: family, friends, coworker, and/or church members. What are their responsibilities? How can you support them as they fulfill those responsibilities?