Exodus 18 English Standard Version 

Jethro’s Advice

This is the header for Exodus 18.

I advised my readers to meditate on the Word of the Lord.

Did you take my advice?

For those who did meditate on the Word, did you do so just because I advised it?

For those who did not meditate, ask yourselves what not.

Here is a lesson about giving advice.

We do not control the outcome.

My hope is that the Lord would speak to those who did meditate.

I do not control what was shown to those who did meditate.

Jethro was a Midianite, he was not from a tribe of Israel.

What does that tell us?

Moses took his advice. What does that tell us?

My last comment about unsolicited advice is this; 

Look to the Lord for the answer to any question including whether to heed advice or not because unsolicited advice can be used as a tool of manipulation and control.

Exodus 18:13-27 English Standard Version

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

We will talk tomorrow.