You may remember that Moses spent around forty years looking after his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep. Jethro came with his sons and his wife to Moses in wilderness and camped at the mountain of God (v1-6). He had heard what God had done for Moses and the people of Israel.
Early in chapter 4 we read that Moses and Zipporah and their sons set out for Egypt but It seems that Moses had sent his wife Zipporah and their two sons Gershon and Eliezer back to Jethro at some point and It is not clear whether they were sent back to Jethro’s home whilst Moses was still in the wilderness or whether they actually went into Egypt. Jethro was the priest of Midian and worshiped the true God. In chapter 2 we were told about Moses’ wife Zipporah and one son Gershon. This is the first and only reference to the name of their second son Eliezer. We are not told when Eliezer was born to them. Eliezer’s name meant, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”.
At the end of chapter 4 we last read about Zipporah and Gershon their first son. Aaron was told by God to go and meet Moses in the wilderness before he went with Aaron into Egypt, so I am assuming that he had sent his wife and sons back before entering Egypt. Maybe this was for their protection or even so that they wouldn’t be slaves in Egypt.
Jethro had sent messages on ahead to say that he was coming with Moses’ wife Zipporah and their two sons. It is evident that they had a good relationship with each other for Moses bowed down to him and kissed him (v7). Jethro had great respect for Moses also and they asked each other about their well-being.
Jethro and Moses spent time talking together (v7-12), Moses telling Jethro all that The LORD had done for Israel, how He had delivered them from Pharaoh. He did not omit the hardships which they had been through, but He related how The LORD had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced at the deliverance of The LORD and gave glory to God. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
On the following day Jethro observed Moses (v13-16) sitting as a judge and it was a long job, from morning until evening. He was concerned for Moses. He asked why he was doing all this alone which meant that the people were waiting around all day. Moses replied that he did it because he was serving God and the people, making judgments in accordance with God’s laws. He knew God’s word and judged accordingly. When one considers the number of people, it was a huge job to do alone. “Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.”
Moses was totally competent to do the job but simply because it was too big to do alone. There is a saying even today that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’. I don’t think that in Moses’ case, justice was being denied but simply delayed because it took so long. He needed to delegate just as the apostles did in Acts 6:2-4.
Jethro advised Moses that the job was too large for him to do alone (v17,18). We must be ready to listen to godly advice. We often make the mistake of thinking that there’s only me to do a job and no-one can do it like me. We need to seek God’s wisdom and sometimes we need to delegate and share responsibilities. There’s the old saying that if you want a job doing, and doing well, do it yourself; and if you need a job doing give it to someone who is busy and not to someone doing nothing otherwise it won’t get done. There may be some truth in these sayings, but we must take these things to God and seek His guidance.
That’s precisely what Jethro’s told Moses to do (v19,20) – “Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.”
Moses was to stand before God and to pray for the people, and to teach them God’s laws. If they knew God’s laws for themselves that would reduce the number of disputes he had to deal with because they would know what to do.
Now I know that knowing the law, it does not necessarily follow that we won’t break it or bend it, but it will go some way to prevention and solving disputes and problems.
It is essential that, as believers, we know God’s law and that we obey it. If we obey His laws, it shows that we are believers. Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience to The Lord’s teachings is a sign of our love for Him. He means not merely the Commandments or other moral instructions, but all of Jesus’ words and teachings (see John 14:21-24).
Jethro advised Moses to choose able men from the people, God-fearing men, men of truth and hating covetousness (v21,22). Just any men would not do, there were vital qualifications, spiritual and moral. Some were to be responsible for more than others – 1000’s, 100’s, 50’s and 10’s. “And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.”
This, I believe, is the forerunner of our two-tier justice system. In this country we have a system of Magistrates’ Courts, mainly presided over by lay Magistrates without legal qualifications, but of good standing. We then have a higher court system presided over by differing layers of Judges who are legally qualified.
The ‘lower courts’ have magistrates appointed under The Justice of the Peace Act of 1361. More recently legally qualified District Judges have been appointed to the lower courts. Lay Magistrates are generally unpaid and sit with a Clerk or Legal Adviser who deals with the procedure and advises them on the law. I was such an Adviser for over 35 years.
The powers of Magistrates’ Courts are limited by the various legislation and deal with the less serious offences, whereas the Higher Courts are greater powers of sentencing and deal with the most serious offences. Magistrates must send the most serious offences to the Higher Courts for trial or sentencing where they had power to try it, but their powers of sentencing were limited.
In my forty-three years working in the judicial system, I have come across hundreds of people dispensing justice and pleading cases. Many of them were worthy of their position but, sadly, some were far from it. To some it was merely a status symbol, to others it was a calling which they took extremely seriously. Truth is the essential ingredient in dealing with absolute justice, from parties to proceedings, witnesses, accused people, lawyers for prosecution and defence, police, magistrates, clerks and advisers, judges and anyone else involved in the judicial system. Without truth it is impossible deal justly. Everyone giving evidence takes an oath or affirmation to ‘tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ but sadly, it is often anything but the truth.
Some people say that we should not sit in judgment on others. They often misuse the words of Jesus, “Judge not that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). There is no doubt that Jesus was not saying that people should never judge others. In fact, the Bible says that we should pray for and be subject to those in authority. (See 2 Samuel 23:3; 1 Timothy 2:1,2; and Titus 3:1 which, in the King James Version is translated – “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.”)In Acts of the Apostles 16 there are several references to magistrates.
One commentator says that we should not judge others until you are prepared to be judged by the same standard. Jesus illustrates with the amusing example of one trying to get a speck out a person’s eye when you have a plank in your own. We all have to make judgments sooner or later in many situations, but the emphasis is that we do it in truth and without hypocrisy in humility. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5,6,7 it is jammed packed with instructions how to live in humility and without pride.
Moses had to exercise leadership in his delegation just as Paul told Timothy that he should teach the things he had heard from him to faithful men who could, in turn, teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
Jethro is careful to tell Moses that he must be sure that God is pleased with this (v23). “If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”
If it is in the will of God, it will be successful. We must be certain that what we do is in accordance with the Word of God. Check everything against it, it is vitally important.
Moses was prepared to listen to advice, and he did as is father-in-law suggested. He chose able men, and they judged the people. The hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged the smaller ones. (v24-27) It made Moses’ task much easier, and it gave the able men responsibility to serve the people and to serve God. It was also good for the people as they were taught by Moses and able to decide which cases needed to be brought to the able men or Moses, or even to settle them themselves.
Jethro returned to his own land.
