What is mentoring? How might I mentor someone?
Exodus 17:9-13Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
Exodus 24:13So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God.
Exodus 33:11Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
Joshua 1:1-2After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.”
Mentoring is more than just teaching; it is sharing life together. Moses and Joshua are examples of effective mentoring. First, Moses oversaw Joshua’s active involvement in the work. Second, Moses welcomed Joshua into his own spiritual arena, even allowing Joshua to be with him during his most significant experiences with God. Then when Moses died, Joshua was prepared to assume responsibility as a faithful, fully equipped, credible leader.
Matthew 16:13-17When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”
Luke 10:1, 17-18, 20The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. . . .When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! . . .But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
Wise mentors do not direct every single move of their mentees. Instead, they teach their mentees to think and act for themselves. The mentor provides feedback and encouragement on progress, but the mentee does the work.
2 Timothy 2:2You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
Mentors should have multiple generations in mind. Paul instructs Timothy to think not only about those he is teaching but also about those they will eventually teach. From Paul to Timothy, from Timothy to his students, then from those students to others represent four generations! Such long-range vision for changing lives is imperative for mentors who want to make a lasting impact.
