Help From Unexpected Sources!
Reading: Exodus 18
My Verse: "Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. 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" (18:17,18).
I truly like this passage about Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. You show us here a wonderful lesson, LORD God - a lesson that we all need to take to heart. For You give us guidance and help in many unexpected ways. Too many think they need to be doing it all, and by doing so burn themselves out needlessly. This not Your plan for us.
Here Moses is doing what he feels he needs to do for the Israelites. He is trying to meet their every need. He does not realize that what he is doing is impossible and unnecessary. It takes an outsider to see the situation for what it is and advise Moses accordingly.
Moses is trying to meet with each and every person that has a problem. Jethro tells him that he can't do this - it is too much, "you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you." Jethro then tells Moses what to do. He tells him to include the people in this task - choose wise and good men to help him. "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, 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" (18:19,20). In other words Moses will still be the authority and teacher of God's statutes and laws but he doesn't need to do it alone. Jethro goes on. "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. 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" (18:21,22).
Moses, wisely took the advice of Jethro and did accordingly. What Moses was doing was not only hard on himself but on the people as well, because he was simply unable to deal with each and every one of the problems. Much time was wasted in the waiting and most likely many problems were not dealt with. Once Moses set the system up people were able to get on with their lives in a much more efficient way. As Jethro said. "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" (18:23).
This story reminds me LORD God of Your all sufficient grace. It reminds me that You LORD God are a God of order. You tell us in I Corinthians 14:40. "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." So when we feel like throwing up our hands and quitting or feel oppressed by the demands on us we need to look to You and be open to Your leading and guidance. We don't need to let ourselves be burned out. You will provide us the help we need - and often in the most unexpected ways!
Help me today to keep my eyes and ears open to those unexpected helping hands You send my way!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Exodus 18
My Verse: "Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. 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" (18:17,18).
I truly like this passage about Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. You show us here a wonderful lesson, LORD God - a lesson that we all need to take to heart. For You give us guidance and help in many unexpected ways. Too many think they need to be doing it all, and by doing so burn themselves out needlessly. This not Your plan for us.
Here Moses is doing what he feels he needs to do for the Israelites. He is trying to meet their every need. He does not realize that what he is doing is impossible and unnecessary. It takes an outsider to see the situation for what it is and advise Moses accordingly.
Moses is trying to meet with each and every person that has a problem. Jethro tells him that he can't do this - it is too much, "you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you." Jethro then tells Moses what to do. He tells him to include the people in this task - choose wise and good men to help him. "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, 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" (18:19,20). In other words Moses will still be the authority and teacher of God's statutes and laws but he doesn't need to do it alone. Jethro goes on. "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. 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" (18:21,22).
Moses, wisely took the advice of Jethro and did accordingly. What Moses was doing was not only hard on himself but on the people as well, because he was simply unable to deal with each and every one of the problems. Much time was wasted in the waiting and most likely many problems were not dealt with. Once Moses set the system up people were able to get on with their lives in a much more efficient way. As Jethro said. "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" (18:23).
This story reminds me LORD God of Your all sufficient grace. It reminds me that You LORD God are a God of order. You tell us in I Corinthians 14:40. "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." So when we feel like throwing up our hands and quitting or feel oppressed by the demands on us we need to look to You and be open to Your leading and guidance. We don't need to let ourselves be burned out. You will provide us the help we need - and often in the most unexpected ways!
Help me today to keep my eyes and ears open to those unexpected helping hands You send my way!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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