And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. ~Exodus 2:17 

A leader is someone who has influence. He is someone whom people trust and follow. He is someone whose ideas or convictions are very compelling to others. He should be someone who is respected, transparent, trustworthy, and diligent. A title and role do not necessarily mean a person is a leader. 

Leadership must be earned, developed, and continually cultivated. Are you able to spot a leader? Let us see this morning three traits in Moses that indicated that he was a leader. 

Leadership must be earned, developed, and continually cultivated. 

Moses was a leader who was stalwart. 

“But Moses stood up.” Moses was resting at a well in Midian when he saw some shepherds who were being unfair and harsh to the daughters of Reuel. He did not know them, but he went from being discouraged to action-minded. As one man, he stood up to these shepherds and defended the women. Moses was stalwart and strong. He displayed initiative at a moment’s notice and took charge of the situation. Stalwart leaders spring into action. 

They are ready to respond when there is a need. They have an inner sense that something needs to be done, and they are the ones to do it. He did not think twice about being outnumbered or being beaten up. Stalwart leaders are men who get things done. Without hesitation, Moses stood up. Do you have initiative? Do you courageously stand up for what is right? 

Moses was a leader who was sympathetic. 

“But Moses stood up and helped them.” Moses saw that these women were weaker than the shepherds. Strong leaders are driven by a desire to help. They are men whom people follow because they help others, invest in others, or support the needs of others. People don’t care how much you know, but they do know how much you care. 

A strong leader helps others succeed. A strong leader helps others go to the next level. A strong leader helps people who are needy. These women of Midian had never seen anything like what Moses did for them at the well. Leaders are defined by the extent of their helpfulness. Are you a helper by nature? Do you come to the aid of other people at a moment’s notice? Are you one of the first to respond to a need? 

A strong leader helps others succeed.

Moses was a leader who was a servant.

“But Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.” Stalwart leaders get things done, even if it means they are the ones to do it. Moses got his hands dirty and helped water the flock of sheep that the women brought to the well. He demonstrated a key trait of leadership: servant leadership. 

John Maxwell said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Servant leaders are like Jesus, who “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” 

Jesus said, “But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.” 

During a conference for preachers held by D. L. Moody, many of the attendees were English preachers who left their shoes outside their rooms expecting someone to shine them, as was the tradition in England. Moody could not get any of his Bible students to do this task. So, without saying anything, Moody spent the wee morning hours of the morning shining the shoes of all the delegates. This would not have been known if one of the preachers had not walked out of his room at 4 a.m. and saw Mr. Moody down the hallway quietly shining shoes. The greatest leaders are servant leaders. 

In that one moment, Moses demonstrated three must-have traits of leaders. Can you spot a leader? Are these traits inherent in you? 

This article was originally published on Dr. Alan Fong's blog, My God Morning, where you can find more of his articles.