By Chalcedony Williams
13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people. And the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone and judge and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to learn God’s will. 16 When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor. I teach them the Laws of God.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
18 You and the people with you will become tired and weak. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to me. I will tell you what you should do, and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles to God. 20 Then teach them the Laws. Make them know the way they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Also, you should choose from the people able men who fear God, men of truth who hate to get things by doing wrong. Have these men rule over the people, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times. Have all the big troubles brought to you. But have them judge the small troubles. So it will be easier for you. They will share the work with you. 23 If you do this and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep your strength. And all these people will go to their place in peace.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
“This is the way I’ve always done it” – a mindset that keeps us bound to a particular system or practice when we no longer have a real reason for why we do the things we do. A mindset that kills progress, stopping us from considering new and better ways to do the things we need to do. That is not to say that tradition is bad, but that favouring certain ways of doing things over others for tradition’s-sake is seldom productive.
Moses spent his days listening to the inquiries of all the people, instructing them in God’s law and settling disputes. Day by day, hundreds of people would come to him with their problems and he would have to help them all. And when his father-in-law,
Jethro, arrives at the camp and raises his concern with Moses, Moses’ answer appears to come from the mindset of “this is the way I’ve always done it” (verse 15-16). But Jethro provides wisdom and insight – “the thing that you are doing is not good, you will surely wear yourself and the people out” (verse 17-18), he tells Moses that the task is too heavy for him alone to bear. We often carry a weight because we feel we have no other option, but God always provides a solution.
Moses could have easily rejected his father-in-law’s advice. He could have insisted that he was strong enough to bear the burden alone or that he alone should have such an important role. But this reaction would not have been a Godly one, rather one of pride. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Our pride can be dangerous, it can turn us into “glory hogs”, where we make the work that we do for God and His people all about ourselves. But no one is indispensable, and God can use anyone to accomplish His will. He is generous and kind enough to include us in His Kingdom-building, but we must be humble enough for Him to use us because God “resists the proud” (James 4:6).
Moses was able to seek out and train up God-fearing men of truth who could partner with him in his work and lead the people. God equips us to do ministry and to equip others for ministry (Ephesians 4:12). None of us are to work in isolation, but to work together, to bear the burden and to build each other up. God has provided help for us: His Holy Spirit working in us and the same Spirit working in our brothers and sisters in Christ so that we can share the burden of service, but more importantly, so that God can be glorified as His Kingdom is advanced.
Ask – Why was it important for Moses to listen to Jethro’s advice?
Seek – What responsibilities am I carrying unnecessarily? Where is my pride hindering my personal growth and the growth of others?
Knock – God, please help me see the best way to serve You so that You will be glorified.
(Upper Photo by Monica Melton on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Djordje Petrovic from Pexels)
