LORD, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think
of them? … O LORD, what are humans that you should care about them? … Psalms 144:3
Moses and his father-in-law Jethro
Background.
In my post yesterday Blessings-Join , Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law visits him. Jethro had to come to see Moses and his daughter and grandchildren to reunite and to kindle that precious relationship of family. I was struck by the fact that Jethro had heard all that God was doing in the lives of the Israelites, almost like he was seeing God for the first time. In Matthew Henry’s commentary he said, “Jethro gave the glory to Israel’s God. Whatever we have the joy of, God must have the praise. They joined in a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Mutual friendship is sanctified by joint worship.”
In Exodus 13:13-27, Jethro observes Moses’ daily routine. We already know that the Israelites were grumbling to Moses about God, but now as the curtain rises on day two, we are in Moses’ Courtroom. Judge Judy had nothing on Moses. In verse 13, “Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.”
Jethro was concerned about his son-in-law, Moses obviously showed great care as he legislated and judged situations brought before him. Jethro being older felt compelled to give some much needed advice. Basically Jethro told Moses, “You are going to burn out, you cannot keep working from sunrise to sunset hearing all of these cases!” So Jethro gives some much needed advice, ” Moses you are not able to care for yourself and your family if you are burned out, you need to find some trusted men, divide the people and let these men solve the problems, you cannot do this alone. Train some men to do what you are doing. Delegate.” In Exodus 18: 25-26, “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.”
Matthew Henry’s Commentary said this, “There may be over-doing even in well-doing. Wisdom is profitable to direct, that we may neither content ourselves with less than our duty, nor task ourselves beyond our strength. Jethro advised Moses to a better plan. Great men should not only study to be useful themselves, but contrive to make others useful. Care must be taken in the choice of the persons admitted into such a trust.”
Here are my five minutes of thoughts on the Five Minute Friday Word: Care
Go.
CARE=Compassion, Awareness, Respect, and Education
Jethro cared for his son-in-law. Jethro had compassion for Moses. Jethro’s awareness proves that he cares for Moses. He respected his son-in-law, after all Moses had tended sheep for Jethro during his time in the desert, he was the father of his grandchildren and the husband to his daughter. Moses was caring for the people, he had led them out of the Egypt, through the Red Sea, prayed for provisions and protection from the war with Amelek. God showed he cared because he enabled them to fight and to win based on Moses prayers. Now we see God’s care in a different arena, we see God enlisting Jethro to give Moses some Godly advice. Jethro joined God and spoke to Moses about a better plan, Jethro educated Moses in delegation because he cared for his son-in law and his success as a leader of the Israelites.
Stop.
Father God, just as Moses was trying to take care of all the people, sometimes we feel the weight of the world as we juggle the tasks that need to be done for our loved ones. You deeply care for us. You did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. Let us be willing to show compassion, help keep us aware, enable us to respect others, and educate us if we are lacking in wisdom. We want to enjoy the blessings we have in our life because we know that you care for every detail of our life. Help us to be willing to join you where you are working. Help us to care. Blessings.
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