The Israelites had been slaves to the Egyptians for 400 years. They certainly would not have had any experience governing themselves – they left their authorities in Egypt. One of the most loving things God did for the Israelites was to teach them how to govern themselves – with God at the helm, of course! It started with one – Moses – who had grown up in the palaces of Egypt. Moses knew how to govern. But how could one person govern an entire nation?
Moses’ father-in-law, a priest in his own community, knew that this would be too great a task for one person. It was Jethro’s recommendation that Moses select judges to help govern the people. Moses would teach the judges, and the judges would hear and rule on petty disputes. This would help prepare the people to run as an organized community when finally, they would enter the promised land. Who would have thought that delegating cooperating would be two of God’s most precious gifts?
Despite my consistent insistence that I can do everything and need no one, I have found over the years that this is simply not true. I have identified several of the areas I really need help. And then I have found people who can help me to do the things I am not able to do by myself. It’s not easy to admit I can’t do everything. It’s not easy to trust other people to do the things I can’t do.
But, considering delegating and cooperating are two of God’s most precious gifts, who am I to refuse them? It’s like building a website for a church—what’s the best way to build a church presence online when the world is so rapidly changing? The answer? I’m not always sure. But I do know that delegating and asking others for help really does make a difference.
That’s what it means to be faithful.
Text: Exodus 18:1-27
Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro took her back, along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been an alien in a foreign land”), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses’ sons and wife to him. He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons.”
Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed down and kissed him; each asked after the other’s welfare, and they went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians. Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them.” And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God; teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do. You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.” So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country.