 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,”7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. 13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 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?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 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.” 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 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. 19 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, 20 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.21 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. 22 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. 23 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.” 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 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. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. Meditation You cannot do everything. Your limitations are a grace from God. Autonomy is an unsustainable strategy that diminishes our participation in God’s glory story. Godly leadership celebrates the grace of limitations and delegates duties to people God has prepared. Jethro was a priest of Midean who heard “all the Lord had done” for Israel, “rejoiced”(9), and began worshipping the Lord as the greatest of all gods (10-12). God is gaining glory by fulfilling His mission to draw worshippers to Himself from every people and nation. Often we miss God’s advancement of glory as we get engulfed in daily duties of leadership. Moses did what seemed right, deciding disputes for all who inquire of God’s direction (13-16). Jethro diagnosed the dysfunction, pointing out the impossibility of Moses deciding every case. “You will certainly wear yourselves out… you are not able to do it alone” (18). Moses followed the direction to discern people God had prepared to “share the burden,” able men who feared God, were trustworthy, and hated bribes. The earliest temptation was “to be like God” (Genesis 3:5) but only He can be everywhere, do everything, and know everything. God has designed us to optimize impact through working together, gifting each of us uniquely for His glorious work. Leaders who refuse to delegate run the risk of trying to be like God and rob God of glory. Leaders who trust God’s sovereign grace will celebrate their limitations through delegation, discerning whom God has prepared and uniquely equipped for certain roles. Richly Dwelling -God’s sovereign grace frees us from sin and slavery and frees us for participation in His glory story, worshipping Him with all our hearts. As Moses shared the mighty works of God with Jethro, who in your life or family needs to hear the grace of God? -Do you see the grace of God in your limitations? Why or why not? -God calls leaders to delegate to people He has prepared, to equip and empower them for His purposes. What does this look like in your life and leadership in your home, church, and community? Key Verse 25 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. Comments are closed.
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