Counsel from a father-in-law

 

Exodus 18:13-27

 

September 14, 2024

 

Counsel from a father-in-law

The next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till 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, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”  And 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 them know the statutes of God and his laws.”  Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.  You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.  Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.  Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.  And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So, it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.  If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

So, Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.  Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.  And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.  Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

We all need a Jethro in our lives, someone who observes what we are doing and gives us counsel on how to do it better.  As followers of Jesus, we must have people who are wise in the ways of God to give us counsel.  I have shared that one of the greatest blessings one can have is a mentor; I have been blessed to have many.  And we have this counsel in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

You and I need that person who tells you, “What you are doing is not good.”  My pastor is that kind of man, and he has addressed that with me when I allow my personal feelings about COVID-19 to be part of a document, From the Back Porch.  Larry York was my pastor and friend, and I look to his wise counsel.  I also look to my prayer partner of many years, John Davis, and Forrest Lowry.  

Yes, I am a mess, and I need men who love me and will shoot straight with me.  Guess what, you need them also, both men and women, who will give you wise counsel.  Note: Men need men as mentors, and Ladies need ladies.  

Soon, we do not know how long, Jethro went back home, but what he did for Moses has changed the way our system of governing people all over the world.  Can you imagine doing what Moses was doing before his father-in-law came to him?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice