Bible Talks

From: Messages of God's Love: 1969

• 3 min. read • grade level: 9

Exodus 18:13-27¹³And 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. ¹⁴And 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? ¹⁵And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: ¹⁶When 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. ¹⁷And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. ¹⁸Thou 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. ¹⁹Hearken 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: ²⁰And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. ²¹Moreover 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: ²²And 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. ²³If 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. ²⁴So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. ²⁵And 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. ²⁶And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. ²⁷And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land. (Exodus 18:13‑27)

“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 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... 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 Hoses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.”

It would seem that Moses acted upon this advice of Jethro, his father-in-law, without consulting God. If so, then this was a failure on Moses’ part. Jethro was a remarkable man, and his counsel was wise and prudent, according to man; yet In reality, it left God out and made the health of Moses its chief aim, whereas, it was not Moses, but the Lord, through Moses, who bore the burden of the people. It was not a question of the strength of Moses, but of his resources in God. If the Lord gives us a work to do for Him, dear young Christian, there may be difficulties, but the difficulties should be measured, not by what we are, but by what He is. Has He not told us, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” 2 Corinthians 12:9⁹And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)? May we learn to bring everything to God in prayer, for He loves us, and knows our needs and limitations beer than anyone else, and will pride wisdom and strength for whatever He gives us to do for Him. “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25²⁵Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. (Deuteronomy 33:25).

Whatever the failure of Moses may have been, God uses this arrangement for administering justice and judgment in Israel, to give us a picture of the government of the world under Christ in the reign of glory that is coming. For in that blest millennial day, “the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6). How much corruption there is in government today, how often a criminal gets off with a lighter sentence than he deserves, and often the innocent have to suffer. But when the Lord Jesus reigns, He will rule in righteousness — His government will be perfect. Then there will be a display of righteous judgment on earth before all the world. However, we as Christians, should remember that we cannot expect to see perfect justice in this unrighteous world. We should be thankful for the government we have, which permits us the liberties and privileges we have under God in these favored lands; but the world has rejected the only “just One,” they have murdered and cast Him out, and now we can expect to suffer if we walk in His ways.

It is part of our Christian heritage while our Lord is rejected, for “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29²⁹For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29). Nevertheless, when the Lord Jesus reigns in righteousness, as He will before very long, then we too shall reign with Him.

After seeing all the wonders that the Lord had wrought, Jethro turned and went back to his own land. Moses, on the other hand, “chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God.” Hebrews 11:25²⁵Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (Hebrews 11:25). God’s way to His land led through the wilderness; and so it is for us. We are pilgrims passing through this wilderness world, but it is the way to that heavenly land and to the rest of God above.

ML-12/14/1969

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