Exodus 18:1-27
Forty years before Moses had fled to Midian to escape the former Pharaoh’s wrath. While there he married Zipporah, daughter of the priest of Midian, and worked for his father-in-law, Jethro. The Midianites were primarily located in the northwest corner of the corner of the Arabian peninsula, along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba and to the north. They were descended from Abraham’s second wife, Keturah, according to Genesis 25:2 and were closely allied to Ishmael’s descendants. There were few formal boundaries and much of their land was shared with the Edomites and Amalekites, much as the great plains was shared by many Indian tribes in the United states.
“When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.” (Exodus 18:1-6)
Jethro’s home, believed to be the village of El Bad was only a few days walk from where Israel was camped. Moses had sent Zipporah home with his two sons. And Jethro brought her and their two sons back to him at the camp there in the foothills of Mt. Horeb. Both Moses’ son’s names reflect what God had done for Moses.
“And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.” (Exodus 18:7-8)
Unlike Jacob, Moses had built a strong relationship with his father-in-law. Despite the formal sounding greeting, they were glad to spend time together. Moses shared the different things that happened in Egypt with the different plagues and at the crossing of the Red Sea. He also described the way the people blamed him when problems appeared and the stress they had experienced trying to get away before God destroyed the Egyptian army.
“And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.” (Exodus 18:9-12)
As descendants of Abraham, the Midianites had known about God and Jethro had held to that belief. As a priest himself, he was encouraged by what God had done and was again convinced of the one true God. He administered sacrifices to God himself, meeting with all the leaders of Israel. Over the centuries the various Arab tribes drifted farther from the worship of God. When Mohamed formed the religion of Islam, he tried to purge some of the outside influences and get back to a true worship of God. Unfortunately, like Luther, Calvin, Knox, and other reformers, he retained a great deal of the false beliefs that had developed, with very similar results.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.” (Exodus 18:13-16)
Any time there is a group of people there will be conflicts. It is why love is such an important aspect of being a Christian, enabling us to forgive and understand. In the almost two months that had passed since leaving Egypt, the people had gotten in the habit of coming to Moses for counseling and resolution of conflict. It was consuming almost all of Moses’ time.
“And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.” (Exodus 18:17-20)
Jethro recognized that Moses’ approach was counter productive. It would eventually wear down both Moses and the people because they could not get their problems taken care of, and Moses would be dealing with nothing but problems. The advice he gave was very similar to what the apostles said in Acts 6:2-3. “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
The apostles were experiencing some of the same problems Jethro anticipated. If Moses would take the time to build his on relationship with God then teach the people Gods laws and how to live their daily lives they would be far less dependent on him. Moses had made the same mistake a great many pastors make, getting so busy getting the people saved he forgot about the first part of Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:…” Israel had already been saved, now they needed to be taught. Moses would send the rest of his life teaching them.
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.” (Exodus 18:21-23)
No amount of teaching will eliminate human nature, so there will still be problems. Just as the apostles told the church to select(ordain) seven deacons to take care of the problems, Jethro advised Moses that by designating people to deal with problems that arose, he could spread the burden out and ensure the people would attain what God wanted for them. He further stressed the need for God’s leadership in doing it.
“So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.” (Exodus 18:24-26)
Moses was meek enough to consider Jethro’s opinion and decided it was good advice. By allowing others to take responsibility on less important stuff, he built their leaderships skills, and freed himself to deal with more critical decisions. Just a few days later, after Moses had the opportunity to see how much difference it made, God would give him detailed instructions as to how it should be done. While Jethro’s advice was not exactly the way God wanted things, God used it to open Moses’ mind to his plan.
“And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.” (Exodus 18:27)
Forty years before Moses had fled to Midian to escape the former Pharaoh’s wrath. While there he married Zipporah, daughter of the priest of Midian, and worked for his father-in-law, Jethro. The Midianites were primarily located in the northwest corner of the corner of the Arabian peninsula, along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba and to the north. They were descended from Abraham’s second wife, Keturah, according to Genesis 25:2 and were closely allied to Ishmael’s descendants. There were few formal boundaries and much of their land was shared with the Edomites and Amalekites, much as the great plains was shared by many Indian tribes in the United states.
“When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.” (Exodus 18:1-6)
Jethro’s home, believed to be the village of El Bad was only a few days walk from where Israel was camped. Moses had sent Zipporah home with his two sons. And Jethro brought her and their two sons back to him at the camp there in the foothills of Mt. Horeb. Both Moses’ son’s names reflect what God had done for Moses.
“And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.” (Exodus 18:7-8)
Unlike Jacob, Moses had built a strong relationship with his father-in-law. Despite the formal sounding greeting, they were glad to spend time together. Moses shared the different things that happened in Egypt with the different plagues and at the crossing of the Red Sea. He also described the way the people blamed him when problems appeared and the stress they had experienced trying to get away before God destroyed the Egyptian army.
“And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.” (Exodus 18:9-12)
As descendants of Abraham, the Midianites had known about God and Jethro had held to that belief. As a priest himself, he was encouraged by what God had done and was again convinced of the one true God. He administered sacrifices to God himself, meeting with all the leaders of Israel. Over the centuries the various Arab tribes drifted farther from the worship of God. When Mohamed formed the religion of Islam, he tried to purge some of the outside influences and get back to a true worship of God. Unfortunately, like Luther, Calvin, Knox, and other reformers, he retained a great deal of the false beliefs that had developed, with very similar results.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.” (Exodus 18:13-16)
Any time there is a group of people there will be conflicts. It is why love is such an important aspect of being a Christian, enabling us to forgive and understand. In the almost two months that had passed since leaving Egypt, the people had gotten in the habit of coming to Moses for counseling and resolution of conflict. It was consuming almost all of Moses’ time.
“And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.” (Exodus 18:17-20)
Jethro recognized that Moses’ approach was counter productive. It would eventually wear down both Moses and the people because they could not get their problems taken care of, and Moses would be dealing with nothing but problems. The advice he gave was very similar to what the apostles said in Acts 6:2-3. “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
The apostles were experiencing some of the same problems Jethro anticipated. If Moses would take the time to build his on relationship with God then teach the people Gods laws and how to live their daily lives they would be far less dependent on him. Moses had made the same mistake a great many pastors make, getting so busy getting the people saved he forgot about the first part of Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:…” Israel had already been saved, now they needed to be taught. Moses would send the rest of his life teaching them.
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.” (Exodus 18:21-23)
No amount of teaching will eliminate human nature, so there will still be problems. Just as the apostles told the church to select(ordain) seven deacons to take care of the problems, Jethro advised Moses that by designating people to deal with problems that arose, he could spread the burden out and ensure the people would attain what God wanted for them. He further stressed the need for God’s leadership in doing it.
“So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.” (Exodus 18:24-26)
Moses was meek enough to consider Jethro’s opinion and decided it was good advice. By allowing others to take responsibility on less important stuff, he built their leaderships skills, and freed himself to deal with more critical decisions. Just a few days later, after Moses had the opportunity to see how much difference it made, God would give him detailed instructions as to how it should be done. While Jethro’s advice was not exactly the way God wanted things, God used it to open Moses’ mind to his plan.
“And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.” (Exodus 18:27)
An excellent post. And to this day, we don't take our problems to the President or to the Queen, either!
ReplyDeleteBut there is an issue I hope you won't mind me bringing up. Mohammed never brought others to worship the true God. Before his rise, the Kaabah in Mecca had 360 different idols, one for each day of the year. Allah, the moon god was chief of them all. When Mohammed rose to power, he had all the idols destroyed, except one - the moon god. He then dedicated the whole ediface to Allah. He also preserved the Sacred Stone, which by kissing, soaked away the worshipper's sins.
Allah is not the Biblical God of Israel. He is not thought of as a Trinitarian God, and he does not have a son. And later in life, Mohammed persecuted the Jews, and the two sides are hostile to each other to this day.
That is exactly right. Most reformers are unwilling to do radical surgery to get to the root of the problem, focusing on a the symptoms that trouble them, whether they are religious or political reformers.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Obama's healthcare reform only addressed the problem that some people did not have health insurance but did nothing about deep rooted problems in the industry itself, including unfair pricing and ineffective and dangerous drugs being approved by the FDA.
Luther addressed 95 specific areas of concern such as the selling of indulgences by the Catholic Church but did not address far more basic issues such as infant baptism or salvation.
It is true that Allah is not the biblical God. Neither is the tolerant ineffective god preached in many churches today.