Exodus 18:13-27

Choose Able Men to Help Judge

Read the passage

13The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.

20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

23If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

25So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

26And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Moses sits to judge the people's disputes from morning until evening. Jethro watches the crowd standing around him and asks why he is doing this alone. Moses explains that people come to inquire of God and that he makes God's statutes and laws known as he settles their cases.

Jethro tells him the arrangement is not good. Both Moses and the people will wear themselves out. The task is too heavy for one man, however necessary it is.

Moses must continue representing the people before God and teaching them how to live. But Jethro advises him to appoint capable men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain. These men will judge ordinary cases, bringing the major matters to Moses. Their character matters because other people's disputes will be placed in their hands.

Jethro gives the counsel subject to God's direction. If Moses follows it, he will be able to endure and the people can go home in peace. Moses listens, chooses capable men, and shares the judging as advised. The difficult cases still come to him.

The change serves the people as well as their leader. It provides more access to judgment without separating decisions from God's law. Moses' willingness to listen is part of faithful leadership: he accepts help so the work can be done well.

Questions

1 Why does Jethro say the arrangement is not good?

AnswerThe load is too heavy for Moses alone and will wear out both him and the people waiting for judgment.

2 What qualities should the appointed men have?

AnswerThey must be capable, God-fearing, trustworthy, and opposed to dishonest gain. Ability and integrity are both necessary for the work.

3 What responsibilities remain with Moses?

AnswerHe represents the people before God, teaches His statutes and laws, and handles the difficult cases the other judges bring to him.

4 How does Moses respond to Jethro's advice?

AnswerHe listens and puts it into practice. He appoints leaders who judge the ordinary cases, while major matters come to him.

What This Means for Us

A responsibility can be good while the way we carry it needs to change. Jethro notices the strain on everyone, and Moses accepts his counsel. Ask someone who sees your daily work whether an arrangement is placing too much on one person.

Sharing a task requires more than handing it away. Explain what needs to be done, choose someone trustworthy, and agree on when help is needed. In a family or church, good organization should make care more available to the people who depend on it.

Prayer

We pray: Lord, give leaders humility to share responsibility and wisdom to choose trustworthy helpers. Protect the people who depend on them, and teach our household to serve without making one person carry everything. Amen.

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