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EXODUS 18
page 69
I will erase the memory of Amalek from under
heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar there and named
it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my
banner”). 16 He said, “They have raised their fist
against the Lord’s throne, so now* the Lord
will be at war with Amalek generation after
generation.”
Jethro’s Visit to Moses
Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of
Midian, heard about everything God had
done for Moses and his people, the Israelites.
He heard especially about how the Lord had
rescued them from Egypt.
2 Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah,
and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken
them in. 3 (Moses’ first son was named Gershom,* for Moses had said when the boy was
born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign
land.” 4 His second son was named Eliezer,*
for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors
was my helper; he rescued me from the sword
of Pharaoh.”) 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,
now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He
brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him,
and they arrived while Moses and the people
were camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro
had sent a message to Moses, saying, “I, Jethro,
your father-in-law, am coming to see you with
your wife and your two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-inlaw. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked
about each other’s welfare and then went into
Moses’ tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and Egypt
on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the
hardships they had experienced along the way
and how the Lord had rescued his people from
all their troubles. 9 Jethro was delighted when he
heard about all the good things the Lord had
done for Israel as he rescued them from the
hand of the Egyptians.
10 “Praise the Lord,” Jethro said, “for he
has rescued you from the Egyptians and from
Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the
powerful hand of Egypt! 11 I know now that the
Lord is greater than all other gods, because
he rescued his people from the oppression of
the proud Egyptians.”
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought
a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron
and all the elders of Israel came out and joined
him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence.
18
Jethro’s Wise Advice
13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the
people’s disputes against each other. They
waited before him from morning till evening.
14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that
17:16 Or Hands have been lifted up to the Lord’s throne, and
now. 18:3 Gershom sounds like a Hebrew term that means
“a foreigner there.” 18:4 Eliezer means “God is my helper.”
Moses was doing for the people, he asked,
“What are you really accomplishing here? Why
are you trying to do all this alone while everyone
stands around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to
me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute
arises, they come to me, and I am the one who
settles the case between the quarreling parties.
I inform the people of God’s decrees and give
them his instructions.”
17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law
exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself
out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a
burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now
listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice,
and may God be with you. You should continue
to be the people’s representative before God,
bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them
God’s decrees, and give them his instructions.
Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But
select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint
them as leaders over groups of one thousand,
one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common
disputes, but have them bring the major cases to
you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters
themselves. They will help you carry the load,
making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow
this advice, and if God commands you to do so,
then you will be able to endure the pressures,
and all these people will go home in peace.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice
and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed
them as leaders over the people. He put them in
charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred,
• Leadership
E XODU S 18:17-23
What’s wrong with trying to do too much?
Moses was an enormously gifted leader
but he fell into the trap of believing he
had to do it all himself. This story
teaches us that it is possible to be too
responsible. When we stretch ourselves
too thin we put not only ourselves at risk,
but others also. We can wear ourselves
out, make others wait, prevent those
with gifts from having the opportunity to
use them, and keep them from growing
spiritually through serving others. In the
process, God’s people are dissatisfied
and distracted, and God’s work is
delayed. Jethro’s advice has been God’s
strategy from the beginning: delegation
and discipleship.