Say what you will, but Moses was a pretty amazing superhero. He led these freed slaves away from their captors, at great personal expense. The stress, the energy, the patience it took to stand before Pharaoh and then stand with this grumbling bunch of whiners was incredibly taxing. Moses even sent his family away so as not to risk them and not to distract Moses from his mission. Fortunately, Moses had a godly Father-in-Law.
From the first, Jethro had been Moses’ mentor. He taught Moses how to shepherd. He led Moses for 40 years as Moses raised a family and built a family business. He protected His daughter and grandkids while Moses left to free Israel. Now, as Israel was on its way, Jethro watched this man with pride and concern. He watched Moses act as an administrator and quickly saw the toll that took on Moses and on the people. Jethro manned up and confronted Moses. He taught him how to delegate duties. He encouraged Moses to trust others as He led these 2+ million people.
Moses Listened to Jethro, built a governing body to ease the leadership burden. Jethro also returned Moses family to him. Jethro did not mind caring for his daughter and grandkids, but their place was with their husband and father. Moses was wise to listen and as he did, he was able to lead these people effectively without bogging down in daily administrative matters.
Our lesson? We need to be sensitive to God’s lead in our lives. We need to allow those that will come along side and encourage us to speak the truth in love. We need to heed God’s intervention and not allow pride or fear to keep us from God’s best. As we start this Thanksgiving season, We need to truly be thankful for all that God has provided and all that the Lord has done. Thank You, Lord for all You have provided me and my family. Without You, Adonai, we would be and have nothing. Help us, Lord, to honor You and follow You closely.
God Bless You and Happy Thanksgiving
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.
Walking With God 