Jethro Counsels Moses

Topic: Delegation

Passage: Exodus 18:13–27

September 11, 2020

Commentary

The people stood around Moses from morning till evening waiting for him to judge them (v. 13). When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing he questioned why he was doing all the work and letting all the other people stand around and watch (v. 14). Moses answered that he did it because the people come to him to inquire of God when they have a dispute and he has to decide between one person and another, and make them know the statutes of God and his laws (vv. 15-16). Jethro said to him, “What you are doing is not good (v. 17). You and these people will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone (v. 18).

Jethro goes on to give his father-in-law some advice. He says, “It is good that you represent the people and bring their cases to God, and make them know what they must do (vv. 19-20). However, you must look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens (v. 21). Let them judge the people. 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 (v. 22). If you do this, God will direct you, and all the people will go to their place in peace (v. 23)."

As a result Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said (vv. 24-25). Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves (v. 26). Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country (v. 27).

Application

It is better to put 10 men to work than to do the work of 10 men. God doesn’t expect me to do everything, only that which He has me to do is important.

Exodus 18:13– 27 (NET)

¹³ On the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until 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 are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

¹⁵ Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶ When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.”

¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good! ¹⁸ You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. ¹⁹ Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you. You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; ²⁰ warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. ²¹ But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing men, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²² They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden with you. ²³ If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”

²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said. ²⁵ Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and he made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²⁶ They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.

²⁷ Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and so Jethro went to his own land.