The story of Jethro coming to the aid of Moses is an echo of an earlier story. In today’s reading, Moses has been charged with Israel’s care, but the task soon proves to be too much for one person. Observing his solo leadership efforts, Jethro says, “What you’re doing is not good” (Exodus 18:17).
Not good. Jethro’s words echo God’s words in Genesis 2: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). If there is to be orderly ruling and subduing, if there is to be fruitfulness and multiplication as God has decreed, the work cannot be done alone. Just as God provided Eve to be a necessary ally to Adam, He now provides Jethro and the leaders of Israel to be necessary allies to Moses.
Don’t miss this: The concept of self-reliance is wholly foreign to the Christian faith. We are created to need God and others. We are designed for interdependence and community. There is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian. It matters that we understand this as we listen for the echo of our own story in that of Moses.
You and I may not be called to bring orderly rule to a nation, as Moses did, but we are called to submit our hearts to God as He brings orderly rule to our hearts as new creations in Christ. The Bible calls this sanctification. In God’s name, we take dominion over sin. We cultivate the fruit of the Spirit (Acts 6:1–7). Like Moses and Adam, we are called to rule and subdue, to be fruitful and multiply. And like them, it is not good to attempt the good work alone. Nor is it necessary. God has provided necessary allies for us.
First, He has sent His Spirit to comfort and convict. Any effort to grow in holiness apart from the help of the Spirit will teach us, as Jethro says, “The task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone” (Exodus 18:18). But He also sends help in the form of Christian community. He provides us teachers to guide us through the Scripture, mentors to guide us in wisdom, brothers and sisters to encourage us and hold us accountable.
What sin are you striving to rule in your own strength? The thing is too heavy for you. Ask for the Spirit to train and convict you. Seek the ready help of the family of God. Trade self-reliance for the gift of dependence on the Spirit and interdependence with the saints. “In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure” (Exodus 18:22–23).
We cannot serve God on our own. We must rely on the help we receive from:
-Jesus: He gives us satisfaction in rough & difficult & barren places.
-Close friends: They support us as we fight our battles.
-Godly advisors: They help us judge situations & make decisions.
Though this is true of the Christian life in general, it is especially true for those of us who work in Christian leadership to remember this. I am the children’s minister at our church. Though I have a great group of core volunteers, some are becoming burned out because they are the only volunteer in that class. I have been trying over a year to get them help, but people are not responding. I have been praying for God to change hearts and lead people to volunteer with us. He has answered in some positions, but not all of them yet. It can be discouraging. However, I know that God is good and He does everything for our good & His glory. This time of trial will help us to rely more on Him.
Please pray for the adults in our church to find ways to help the children in our church to grow closer to Christ. Pray for me as I lead my core leadership team, my volunteers, parents, and children. I want to lead each person into a closer relationship with Christ, which means that I also need to be continuing to rely on Christ & other godly people and not myself. This was a much needed teaching today.
Lord, help me to take this to heart and to walk in it. Help me to rely on You & others as I journey this life & lead others to a closer relationship with You.
Sorry you are seeing so many posts from me. My SRT app was acting up and was posting things as I was typing. Then it kicked me off.
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. – Exodus 17:10-13. Wow I immediately see the image in my head. The Israelites won because of the solid rock foundation and support of other believers. Joshua (Aaron and Hur) obeyed and TRUSTED. So beautiful!!!
We cannot serve God on our own. We must rely on the help we receive from:
-Jesus: He gives us satisfaction in rough & difficult places.
-Close friends: They support us in our battles.
We cannot serve God on our own. We must rely on the help we receive from:
-Jesus: He gives us satisfaction in rough & difficult places.
We cannot serve God on our own. We must rely on the help we receive from:
I really like Jethro. He observes and cares for his son-in-law, Moses, and gives him advice. I think it is interesting that God works through Jethro to help Moses and the Israelites rather than instruct Moses to set up this structure of judges himself.
“We are created to need God and others.” Thankful for this reminder. Church community is so important, even if we think – “I’m good, I’ve got this” we still need each other, we were not created to be alone – and that includes our walk of faith. Pastors need others too. Just as Moses found out, the job is to great for just one -pastors need others to come along side of them in ministry to help “hold up their arms”. Father help me to not be to prideful, afraid or ashamed to ask the help of others when I need it. But most of all to first go to You and seek Your wisdom & direction and to ask to whom should I go. Amen.
I have a tendency to try and prove my capabilities, to others and to myself. As if by doing things on my own, by my own power, it makes means I am sufficient and strong. But which requires more strength and courage, to be vulnerable and ask for help and trust others and God or to grit through and trust only what I know? Going first to be vulnerable in relationship takes a lot more courage because the response is unknown but to not do so denies the opportunity for connection (which does good for everyone) and the chance for others to serve and be used by God, it denies an avenue for God to show up