Week 41, Day 4: Jethro’s advice

Today’s Reading:  Exodus 18:1-27

Some thoughts from the reading…

Moses’ father-in-law comes to him at this time.  He bring his wife Zipporah and their two sons.  After seeing Moses judging over the disputes among the people all day long, Jethro tells Moses that this will wear him out.  He advices him to appoint men who “fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain”.  They were to judge over the minor disputes, leaving the major disputes for Moses to decide.  I liked how it is recorded that Jethro says for Moses to do this thing if God so commands you (vs. 23).  I am not sure if Jethro was a priest of God in Midian or if he was a priest to some idol before this time.  But certainly after hearing of all that the Lord did for Moses and Israel he is convinced that Jehovah is the almighty God, vs. 11.  His advice is wise and he expresses wisdom by advising that Moses do this if God wants him to. 

Often times I think we do things and then later, looking back hope that it was the right thing to do.  Certainly there will be many decisions that we make where there is not a passage of scritpure directly speaking of such a decision/ circumstance.  But we do need to seek out doing what pleases God.  Let us pray that we would honor God in our decisions.  That we would do what will help us to be good servants to Him.  Eph 5:10 says “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”  Let us give diligence to counseling God’s word and to praying before we make decisions about what to do.

Question:  What lessons can be learned from the aspect of Moses doing all the work by himself?  Why would this wear him out?  Think of direct applications that can be made for the church today.

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