Jethro’s Wise Advice
"The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.
When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”
Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”
“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions." Exodus 18:13-24
Like on the previous study on the mindset of Moses, here we can once again see his Superman mentality.
Now, he might not be complaining but all this "doing it alone" lifestyle would not have been easy. It would have been spreading himself thin and wearing himself and the people he was to serve out.
The good thing is that his father in law, saw this oversight and gave him some much needed 'fatherly' advise.
Stubborness
Moses probably wouldn't have listened to anyone else, as we've tackled before, for he could be a little stubborn. But towards Jethro, his father in law, he would have listened.
And when he did, the work he was supposed to do, he should have been able to do.
"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4
If you find yourself in the same boat as Moses...
God is our source of hope and God's Word is a good place to start finding it.
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