Let Me Give You Some Advice
Exodus chapter 18 is where we find Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, drop in for a visit to the wandering Israelites. He hangs out and watches Moses’ mode of operation for a while and makes an astute observation. Moses was the sole judge, deciding between disputes and settling problems in the camp. And you know there are going to be disputes and problems when you have that many people and they are living in stressful conditions. Shoot, there would be problems with that many people living in a utopia.
What Jethro noticed was that, because Moses was doing all the judging by himself, it had become like the local DMV. People were standing in line all day waiting for their turn to talk to someone about their problem. It was wearing them out and it was wearing Moses out.
Jethro’s solution made sense. It was simple. Divide up the work of judging and delegate it out to competent men from among the people. Anything too difficult for them to figure out could be brought to Moses. It would make the people happier, and Moses wouldn’t wreck himself under the burden of being the only judge.
The point I want to make here is not the obvious one. That would be about the wisdom of delegating tasks and dividing labor among people to ease the burden of leadership. That’s a good takeaway, but not the one I want to make.
In verse 24 it says, “So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.” Even the great Moses and he was great, had the sense to listen to others. He didn’t become so proud of who he was and of what God had called him to do that he thought he was above letting someone else speak into his life. Not only did he listen, but he also took the advice he was given. All of it.
There is wisdom in listening to others. There is wisdom in using discernment and rejecting bad advice too. But never allow yourself to get to the point where you are beyond correction and instruction.
That’s my advice.
