Êxodo 18

Êxodo 18

Morris wrote Washington, "No constitution is the same on paper and in life. The exercise of authority depends upon personal character." Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, recognized this truth as well. He knew that his plan to relieve some of the stress in his son-in-law's life depended on the character of the men who were chosen to execute it. That's why he urged Moses to choose men who were not only competent but who also had a healthy fear of God, who spoke the truth and avoided greed. Unfortunately, this fundamental principle of public service is often not carefully observed. In both church and government, people have been put into positions of leadership based on their abilities with little regard for their character. In fact, one poll found that 67 percent of voters think a political leader can have "substantial flaws in personal character" but still govern effectively. Such a position is contrary to Scripture, experience, and common sense. As you face the responsibility of electing officials in your church and government, give careful consideration to their character. Select individuals who not only are able, but who also fear God, uphold the truth and reject greed. People of good character who possess no skills in leadership usually do not make good leaders. But people with leadership skills and little character make even worse leaders. They lead us wherever their character will permit, and that is usually not toward God. What a man is will always determine what a man does. - Back to the Bible (Used with permission) Exodus 18:22 "Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear [the burden] with you. at all times - Ex 18:26 Ro 13:6 every major dispute - Lev 24:11 Nu 15:33 27:2 36:1 De 1:17 17:8,9 every minor dispute they themselves will judge - Ex 18:18 Nu 11:17 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JETHRO'S DETAILED DIRECTIONS ON JUDGING Let them judge the people at all times- “in all normal cases” or “under normal circumstances.” These men would in a sense be "on call" 24/7 as we say today! The judging would begin within these divisions in groups as small as 10 people. And let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you but every minor dispute they themselves will judge- These leaders would bring only the most difficult disputes to Moses which would significantly reduce his "case load." So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you - Literally this begins " lighten it from off thyself." The Hebrew verb (qalal) which means to be small or light and was used literally in Jonah 1:5 of the sailors in the storm lightening the load which gives us a good word picture. So then like a ship with lightened load was less likely to sink, so too Moses with a "lighter load" would be less likely to "sink!" And so the NIV has "That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you." Jethro's logic was to ease Moses' administrative load and spread the load about the selected godly men. NET Note on be easier for you - The expression וְהָקֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ (véhaqel me’aleykha) means literally “and make it light off yourself.” The word plays against the word for “heavy” used earlier—since it was a heavy or burdensome task, Moses must lighten the load. Scott Grant - Letting go of something that we think is important is difficult, but Jethro offers Moses, and us, three incentives: 1) Simply, it will be "easier" for Moses. We make life so much more difficult than it needs to be by obsessing over every detail. Letting go of things, allowing them not to be perfect and allowing other people to help us, is a much easier way to live. 2) The other judges will "bear the burden with you." This is shared leadership, which is so much more exciting than individual leadership. It's so much more fun to do an important task with people than by yourself. People who share something important get to know each other in a deeper way. 3) The people will be able to go home "in peace" instead of waiting around all day for a chance to see Moses. Moses is clinging to responsibility because he doesn't want to disappoint the people, but if he lets go of responsibility it will actually be a blessing to people. His thinking has been all wrong, just as ours often is. In the first story, Jethro heard of "all" that God had "done" (18:1, 8, 9), and it was described as "goodness" (18:9). In the second story, Jethro observed "all" that Moses was "doing" (18:14), but it was "not good" (18:17). Finally, Moses "did all" that Jethro said, and although the text specifically doesn't say it was "good," it leaves no doubt that what Moses finally did was good. It is good for him to do all that Jethro said, which means that it's good for him not to do everything. I have found that letting go is easy in theory and excruciating in practice. It's very easy for me to study it and teach it. It's very easy for me to think about letting go of things until a specific thing is before me. Then all my fleshly patterns of perfectionism, obsession and control tie my insides into knots. But the word of God keeps telling me, "Let go." And my painful experience of holding onto things says, "Let go." Ever so slowly, I'm starting to make those difficult decisions to let go. The results are just as Jethro depicted them: a lighter load, the joy of shared leadership and blessing in the lives of others. Bear the burden (Hebrew - nasa) is translated in the Septuagint (Lxx) with the picturesque verb sunantilambanomai which means literally to grasp hold of with someone and hence to helpfully take up a matter with them. This same verb is used to describe our Helper the Holy Spirit, Paul writing "In the same way the Spirit also helps (sunantilambanomai in the present tense and middle voice) our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;" (Ro 8:26+). As as aside this same Greek verb is used in a somewhat similar context later in Numbers 11 where even after Jethro's plan has been put in place, Moses has to confess he is by the task saying to Jehovah... “I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome ("too heavy," = same word kabed used in Ex 18:18) for me. 15 “So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness.” 16 The LORD therefore said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 “Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit Who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden (Lxx = same verb as here in Ex 18:22 = sunantilambanomai) of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone. (Number 14:11-17) Exodus 18:22 Burden Bearers - Woodrow Kroll Andrew C. Davison wrote about an encounter with Dr. Albert Schweitzer at Lambarene, on the banks of the Ogowe River. It was about noon and the sun was beating down mercilessly as a group walked up a hill with Dr. Schweitzer. Suddenly the doctor strode across the slope to where an African woman was struggling with a load of wood for the cooking fires. The 85-year-old doctor took the entire burden and carried it up the hill for the relieved woman. When they reached the top of the hill, someone asked Dr. Schweitzer why he did things like that, implying that in that heat and at his age he should not. Albert Schweitzer pointed to the woman and said simply, "No one should have to carry a burden like that alone." That was Moses' problem--he was trying to carry his burden alone. It took the wise insight of his father-in-law, Jethro, to point out the fact that others "will bear the burden with you." God's people were never meant to carry their burdens alone. That's why we have the privilege of prayer. Peter urged us to cast "all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). Bearing burdens is also the role of the Church. Paul instructed believers, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). Are you willing to help others bear their burdens? Perhaps even today there is someone who needs you to pray with him, cook a meal or provide transportation for him. It's not hard to spot burdens that need to be borne when you are looking for them. Our responsibility is to do whatever it takes to make a burden lighter. That's a responsibility that brings great satisfaction now and eternal reward in the future. A burden shared is a lighter load. - Back to the Bible (Used with permission) Exodus 18:23 "If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace." God so commands you- Ex 18:18 Ge 21:10-12 1Sa 8:6,7,22 Ac 15:2 Ga 2:2 all these people - Ex 16:29 Ge 18:33 30:25 2Sa 18:3 19:39 21:17 Php 1:24,25 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JETHRO'S ADVICE JEHOVAH'S COMMAND. If you do this thing and God so commands you - The NLT says "If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so." Do this if God directs you. The implication of course is that Moses was to take Jethro's advice to the LORD in prayer, a good practice when we get advice on important matters even from godly men! George Bush - An entire freedom from the spirit of dictation, and a tone of the most exemplary and amiable self-distrust, is apparent in those words. Knowing that Moses had a better counsellor than he was, he gives his advice under correction, like a modest and pious man, who knows that all human counsel is to be given and received with an humble submission to the word and providence of God. He would have his suggestions followed only so far as they met with the approbation of him who is ‘excellent in counsel and mighty in operation,’ and infinite in both. Then you will be able to endure - The Hebrew word for endure literally means to take a stand. "Jacob (Exodus, 501) suggests that there might be a humorous side to this: "you could even do this standing up."" (NET) The promise would be that Moses would be able to endure the pressure. Currid - This statement seems to have both figurative and literal qualities. It means, on the one hand, that Moses will be able to stand up to the number of cases brought to him. On the other hand, the word ‘stand’ is purposely contrasted with ‘sit’ in verse 13: Moses’ strength is preserved so that he may stand before the people. and all these people also will go to their place in peace (shalom) - The second promise is the people would go back to their homes satisfied with the decisions that were rendered. Currid - This clause implies that the court system will function properly and efficiently. The people will not be waiting all day for their disputes to be decided. Thus no social disorder or unrest will result from such a judicial system.