Even Moses and the apostles had to use wisdom in sharing their workload. We depend on God’s Grace but we’re also limited by our physical bodies in this present world.
Moses had left Egypt with possibly two million people (Exodus 12:37, six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children), a huge company of people. Moses led them as the Lord directed, so they looked to him to solve their problems. No wonder God kept Moses for forty years in the wilderness, he had to develop great patience and humility to carry such a burden.
Many are expecting the Lord to move in great power again, just as He did in the Exodus and at the birth of the Church. In both events the leaders had to learn to delegate some of their duties to others, to ‘keep the ship on an even keel’ (calm or progressing steadily, especially during or after a period of troubles or difficulties.)
God used the visit by Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, (along with his wife Zipporah and her sons) to set things in the camp in better order.
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. Exodus 18
Moses had relationship with Jethro and respected him as a father, Zipporah’s father and his sons grandfather.
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
Jethro was a God Fearing man who worshipped the God of Israel and then sat and ate with the elders of the people. They knew and trusted this older man.
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood round him from morning till evening.
Jethro hadn’t seen Moses sitting and judging all the people, but as soon as he saw it he reacted.
14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this you are doing for the people? Exodus
Sometimes when we’re involved right in the middle of events we can’t see the full effect on us and others around us. Jethro saw what was happening with ‘fresh eyes’ and advised Moses to appoint capable and trustworthy men to assist in giving judgements for the people.
Moses couldn’t have sustained the process singlehanded, he had to appoint helpers from the people.
22 Let them serve as judges for the people at all times, but let them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because THEY WILL SHARE IT WITH YOU. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL GO HOME SATISFIED.’
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
Moses recognised the value of good advice and took it. He also gave others experience in the administration of justice for the day when he wouldn’t be there.
When the Spirit begins to move powerfully, many trustworthy workers will be needed to gather in the harvest. I believe we will be partnering with the hosts of heaven, exciting and requiring lots of effort.
God bless and keep you today.