Exodus 2:17
“And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.”
Two incidents in Moses’ life showed signs of a leader in the making. The first incident was when he saw his brethren being beaten by an Egyptian; he saw their helplessness and he slew the Egyptian. The second incident is seen when Moses fled to the wilderness after it was discovered that he slew the Egyptian. He came to a well and saw seven ladies trying to draw water from the well, but they were driven away when the other shepherds arrived. It says in the verse above when Moses saw what was done, “…but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.”
These two incidents, though they were very different in nature, had one identifying mark of a leader in the making. The identifying mark of a leader in the making was that Moses helped the helpless when no one else would stand. He didn’t have to be told to help them, but it was in his character to help them. Even though it was not right for Moses to kill the Egyptian, the instinct to help those who were being hurt is the instinct of a leader in the making.
You can’t make people leaders, but you can see the identifying marks of a leader in their actions. Many of these identifying marks will reveal themselves through the incidents of their lives. Moses’ life shows a few identifying marks of leaders in the making.
First, leaders in the making do right without having to be told to do right. Nobody had to tell Moses to stand for those who were being hurt, but he did it because it was right. A leader in the making will always be the one who does what is right because it is the right thing to do. If you have to be told to do right all the time, you are a follower in the making. Leaders can’t be told to do right; they have to do right. Leaders have the initiative to self-motivate themselves when others have to be told what to do.
Second, leaders in the making rise to the occasion and stand for right. When nobody else would come to the defense of these ladies, Moses came to their defense. A leader in the making is discovered. You will always find when something needs to be done that the leader in the making will stand for right. The leader in the making usually stands alone and does what is right, even if standing for truth means they will become an outcast. Many times real leaders have to stand alone. One of the biggest reasons our society is in the shape that it is in today is because many so-called leaders run with the crowd instead of standing for right. A leader in the making is easily identified because they are the one who always stands for right, and they usually stand alone.
Third, leaders in the making give of themselves to help the helpless. Moses helped those who could not help themselves. You will find that leaders in the making tend to gravitate to help those who nobody else helps. In other words, a leader in the making doesn’t need the crowd’s approval to help the outcast; they just help them even if they must do it alone.
The secret to being a leader is to be a good Christian. These three characteristics should be evident in every Christian’s life; however, when you see these characteristics in a young person, watch them because they are a leader in the making.