The story of Moses is filled with many interesting, complex side characters, all of whom add depth to Moses’ narrative. Many of these characters get some ink in sermons and Bible studies, due to their accomplishments and their flaws, such as his brother Aaron, his sister Miriam, and even Pharoah, the hard-hearted villain of the story. But one character that I realized I knew very little about is Jethro (no, not the Beverly Hillbilly…). Jethro was Moses’ father-in-law, and in Exodus 18, the Bible discusses Jethro’s visit to Moses in the wilderness. As I was reading through this chapter, I was really struck by the wisdom of Jethro’s advice to Moses, the humility of Moses, and just how applicable Jethro’s advice still is to us today.

Jethro went out to see Moses, traveling also with Moses’ wife Zipporah and their children. After hearing Moses’ story about all that God had done for the Israelites to lead them out of slavery in Egypt, the Bible reads that:

“Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. He said, “Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.”   (Exodus 18:9-10)

However, the next day Jethro observed how the Israelites came to Moses all day to settle all of their disputes, and to inquire about God and his laws. When Jethro saw how Moses handled his leadership responsibilities, he spoke to Moses very bluntly, saying:

“What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not to do it alone.” (v. 18)

Jethro then counsels Moses to look for qualified people to help him settle disputes and to judge God’s people. He advises Moses to have all great matters brought to him, but to allow his chosen assistants to solve the smaller disputes, so that these helpers could “bear the burden” with Moses. (v. 22)

What great advice! How often do we try to take on more than we are called to do? How often are we hesitant to ask others to help us in serving, and instead just get discouraged and wear ourselves out, the way Moses was heading towards? 

We were never called to serve God alone. Rather, as Paul writes, we are all part of the body of Christ, with many different parts, “that there may be no division in the body, but that the members have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25)
I also like how Moses responds to his father-in-laws’ not-so-subtle critique of his leadership style. I feel like it would be easy, and perhaps a bit natural, for Moses to get a little defensive about the advice. After all, this is the guy who had just recently led the Israelites out of slavery from Egypt, one of the strongest empires of the ancient world. And no one ever likes to hear that the decisions they are making are “not good”.

But Moses responds by submitting himself to his father-in-law and accepting Jethro’s advice with a spirit of humility, and in verse 24 it says that Moses “listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.”

Sometimes we don’t ask others for help because of pride. We may just feel like it is easier to do the job ourselves rather than asking for others to help us, thinking it as a sign of weakness and also risking rejection if someone says no. But just as Moses submits to Jethro’s counsel, so also must we submit ourselves to both helping our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to asking others to help us, so that we can bear one another’s burdens and serve God’s kingdom together.

Spencer Boren
Elder