Endurance (Part 2)―The
Wisdom of Jethro
Every U.S. President surrounds himself with advisors
he believes have a high-level of expertise in a policy area vital to
the success of his administration. Prominent among them are Economic
Advisor, Secretary of State and Chief of Staff. It is the job of
these advisors to keep their ears to the ground, report critical
developments to the President, and enable him to take actions that
will positively impact the nation. In the ideal scenario, a
President gets good advice and makes good decisions from which the
nation derives a benefit.
The second mention of the word endure in scripture
occurs in a context where that scenario plays out exactly as
scripted. Exodus 18:1-27 is a chapter of the Bible that records for
us the practical outworking of wise advice, so that the advice
culminated in policy formation-implementation from which the man of
God and a nation under his leadership derived great benefit.
Moses met and married a woman named Zipporah during
his fugitive days in Midian. Before the Burning Bush and his return
to Egypt, Zipporah gave birth to two sons: Gershom and Eliezer
(18:3-4). Zipporah and her sons remained in Midian with her father
Jethro while Moses was about the business of delivering God’s people
from a 400-year Egyptian bondage. When Jethro heard of the great
success of his son-in-law, he traveled to Sinai with daughter
and grandsons to reunite them with husband-father Moses (18:6).
Jethro was on spiritual cloud nine after Moses shared
all that God had done (18:7-12). He “rejoiced” and blessed the Lord
and sacrificed to the God who is “greater than all gods” (18:11). At
the conclusion of a celebratory day, Moses, Jethro, Aaron and the
elders of Israel shared a meal together in honor of God’s goodness.
As a father-in-law, it brings great joy whenever my daughter’s
husband experiences a measure of success that directly benefits my
daughter and two grandchildren. I can identify with the joy of
Jethro!
As an aside (but not an insignificant one), the venue for this
family reunion was “the wilderness” (18:5). That word typically
makes one think about what is NOT there. But our text is careful to
tell us who WAS there, for Moses had encamped “at the mount of God”
and the meal shared by Jethro and Israel’s leadership was “before
God” (18:12). Only the presence of God can make the wilderness a
wonderful place to be!
The next day was business as usual. Moses took his
customary seat as judge to settle matters of dispute among the
people from sunup to sundown (18:13-16). After observing the demands
that the millions of dislocated Jews were placing upon Moses, Jethro
concluded that he would “surely wear away” if the stress of his
position went on unabated (18:18). So Jethro offered advice to Moses
with a humility indicative of godliness (18:19-22).
Jethro saw Moses’ job as consisting of three critical
functions: Intercessor, Educator and Arbitrator. He insisted that
NOTHING disrupt his intercessory work on behalf of Israel. Moses
would continue to be “for the people to Godward” that he might bring
their causes to God (18:19). In addition, NOTHING should hinder his
education ministry. Moses would continue to “teach them ordinances
and laws, and shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work
that they must do” (18:20). But Jethro insisted that SOMETHING be
done about arbitration. This role should be delegated to other
qualified men, who would deal with “every small matter” so that
Moses would ONLY have to consider “every great matter” and the “hard
causes” (18:22, 26).
Jethro laid out four qualifications for arbitrators
(18:21). First, they must be “able men” (i.e., have the moral and
mental firepower to discern right from wrong; connect dots in a
dispute). Second, they must “fear God” (i.e., be aware of his
presence-approval for decisions they render). Third, they must be
“men of truth” (i.e., hate a lying tongue; possess the ability to
sniff out liars in the litigation process). Fourth, they must be
“hating covetousness” (i.e., incapable of being bought or bribed by
litigants; immune from money motives in rendering verdicts). The
list was not long, but certain to produce a godly judiciary system
where “Right” would generally prevail.
Jethro thus concluded his advice: “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”
(18:23). Endure is the Hebrew amad (“to stand firm or persist”).
Translation: “Moses, if you heed my advice, your primary roles of
Intercessor and Educator will not be affected or diminished over
time. Moreover, this policy will promote peace among the people.”
One cannot read this
story without contemplating the ability of America to endure long
term without judgeships populated with the kinds of men Jethro
recommended. The wisdom of Jethro was not only embraced by Moses,
but by the Apostles as well, who refused to neglect prayer
[intercession] and the ministry of the Word [education]” to serve tables
(Acts 6:2-4). Men like Stephen and Philip stepped in to handle
practical business matters. In the present age, pastors who have
such men to help them bear the burdens of ministry are blessed
indeed!
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