There are days that we feel like we can do everything on our own, when others could easily be lending a hand. The load that we bear in these moments is due to our own pride getting in the way and not God’s will to guide our lives. Don’t get me wrong, He does wish that we work for Him in His kingdom, but to do all this with His smarts and not our own. Our own desires will only get us in trouble and cause something good to collapse, if we continue to go down this road. Please know that our own good works are filthy rags, but His presence working through us is very good indeed. This is why pastors that are experienced have other pastors and elders help them. They are not alone in their efforts, but have a bunch of people all lending a hand. This is well thought out, where if a new pastor thinks that he can do it all on his own, then trouble is before him. No way can he take care of the needs of the Church’s congregation, but get tired very quickly because of this. God does not wish us to bear a burden that we cannot bear on our own. That is why others in the church are important, along with God at the head. I mention all this, since Moses put a big load upon himself, while judging all the people on his own, before his father in law could talk sense into him. It is said that 1“Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.” (Exodus 18:13) Can you believe the load he was under? To take care of all their needs, all of his free time was spent doing this alone. Fortunately, his father in law, Jethro said, 1“this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel.” (Exodus 18:18,19) It was wise counsel that Moses needed and praise God that he was open to it.
Even people in the faith need to be told when they are a little off base on what they are doing or saying. There is nothing wrong with giving a pastor or brother or sister in Christ good counsel from God. This is especially true when God is tugging at your heart to do so. Many times this is needed, in order to help the person grow in the faith and even get over the hump they be in. This is the same reason why this man of faith gave this counsel to Moses. He said, 1“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: 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 shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.” (Exodus 18:21,22) It was then that he promised, 1“if 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.” (Exodus 18:23) Moses saw that he was wise and 1“hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. And 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. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.” (Exodus 18:24-26) Everything worked out the way Moses’s father in law described. Because the Lord was directing him, everything turned out the way he planned. Because he blessed the Lord, He was working through Him. May you also be open to receive counsel and give it when God’s calls.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that our desires to serve You will not get in the way of doing your will. Help us know what we ought to do, that we don’t get ourselves too far over our heads. Good intentions are one thing, but accomplishing what You desire is another. Therefore, I trust that You will guide me into the things that I should be doing and away from things that I shouldn’t. I do not wish to take on a load that is unnecessary, especially when You are calling me to something else or desiring for me to have others help me. Lord, I wish to do Your will above all things. Take the load that is upon me now and please bear it, that it may be light. Call others in the faith to join me in my evangelism efforts. I need their support. You know who is ready to go out in the harvest and be another light with me. Give them courage, this day, to do something great for Your kingdom. If it is your will, give me their names Lord, that I may reach them. And if they are not people I know now, give them ways to find me. I wish to tell everyone of Your great love and what You did for us on the cross, but it is hard when I am alone. Forgiveness of sins, through Your blood, is so important to explain to people, but hard to reach everyone when I am alone. Your harvest is white, but the workers are few. So awaken every Christian from their slumber. Help them know their calling. And if there are people that are supposed to come out in their own cities or with me, I pray that they will react favorably to You. May they be convicted of what You’ve called them to and jump at it. You are my Lord and I trust in You, God. I know that all things will work out for the good of Your kingdom, if I just continue to let You be the head of what I do in life. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Exodus 18 (KJV)
1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;
2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
5 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
12 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.
13 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.
14 And 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?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When 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.
17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 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.
19 Hearken 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:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover 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:
22 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 shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23 If 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.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25 And 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.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.