The time had come for a break from the wilderness travel.  It was now that Moses was blessed with a special visitor—his father-in-law, Jethro (Exodus 18:5).  He also brought the wife and two sons of Moses, who had remained in Midian.

Moses had the chance to share with Jethro a recounting of God’s deliverance of His people fromEgypt(vs.8).  The news resulted in Jethro praising God and offered Him a sacrifice (vss.10-12).

The following day, Moses went back to his normal routine…an exhausting, solo work of judging the disputes of all the freed Israelites from “morning till evening” (vs.13).  Moses presumed it was his responsibility alone to share God’s will with His people (vs.15).

The words of Jethro, this foreign father-in-law, were astute and beneficial—

   ““What you are doing is not good.  …The work is too heavy

      for you; you cannot handle it alone.””  (vss.17-18)

This wise, outside observation was followed by a concise, two-fold recommendation.  Moses needed to teach the people God’s laws and decrees, and showing them how to live (vs.20).  Secondly, Moses was to select and train honest men to “serve as judges” over select groups of Israelites—so this work would be efficiently divided (vs.21).  Moses would only be responsible for the “difficult cases” (vs.22a).

This wise advice was a “win-win” solution for both Moses and the people.  God worked through Jethro to bring a valuable structure of governance over His people.

PERSONAL REFLECTION:  God never intended that His

   kingdom work would be fulfilled by “Lone Rangers.”

Pastor Dan Kohn

revkohn@gmail.com