Exodus 18:. 13 – 27 “The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”
“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. “Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”
But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.
If you follow this advice and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.
Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.”
Not only is Jethro a godly man, but he is also a very intelligent leader. Moses is doing his best, but trying to judge every case brought by the Israelites is wearing him out! People who stand all day waiting for their problems to be considered are also becoming fed up. Everybody needs a break, and God is advising Moses through Jethro.
APPLICATION: One veteran leader has described the experience of trying to handle everyone’s problems as being akin to “being stoned to death with popcorn.” Jethro advises Moses that Moses needs time to be with God, both to represent his people before God and also to hear from God so that he can pass on God’s messages to the people. Moses is drowning in trivia! Jethro advises that the men be organized into units of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands, with God-fearing, honest and trustworthy men over each of these division. If a matter makes it all the way up to the highest level and no solution is found, only then should the matter be presented to Moses.
Jethro’s advice is outstanding for several reasons:
1. Clearly, better methods for problem – solving are needed.
2. Any system that depends on one individual is doomed to failure.
3. Depending on one man means that no other leaders are being developed. The system Jethro proposes develops leaders. Remember there were 600,000 men, so that means 600 leaders of thousands, 6,000 leaders of hundreds, 12,000 leaders of fifties, and 60,000 leaders of tens. Overall, that means that Moses (and Aaron) will train 78,600 leaders at various levels. Training this many leaders will not only relieve Moses of much of the burden he has been shouldering but will also help organize the Israelites and prepare them for the things God wants them to do in the future.
ARE YOU TRYING TO BE THE ONLY LEADER OR ARE YOU HELPING DEVELOP OTHERS AS LEADERS? Clearly, God’s plan is for leaders to multiply themselves.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the wisdom you gave Jethro and for your plans for us to develop as leaders ourselves and to develop others. Please help us to seek your perfect will as we do these things. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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