Jethro rejoiced and blessed God, offering sacrifices and eating with Moses, Aaron and all the elders of Israel. On the next day Moses sat from morning until night judging the people and settling issues, making them aware of God’s laws.
Here’s where the story gets sticky. Verse 17 is the one that brought me to a dead stop.
“So Moses-father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good.’”
Though this situation has a great ending, I’m not sure I would have gotten that far. Because if anyone, particularly a close relative, were to come to me and say that, I’m afraid, while I might have a frozen smile on my face and the appearance of listening, my brain would be on the fast track. I would be thinking of snide responses and then berating myself for not having the courage of delivery.
Not only does God expect us to honor our parents, He did not put us on this earth to live in solitude, never accepting help or counsel. Just before, in chapter 17, Joshua and his men defeated Amalek because Moses held the staff of God up. When he let his arms drop, they began to lose. Ever try to hold anything – hand weights, two cans of beans, two bags of ice, anything – in your raised hands for long? But Aaron and Hur held Moses arms up for him. We all need support from others and humility to react well to guidance.
Moses did listen to Jethro. And he followed his very good advice and taught able men the laws and commands of God. He made them rulers over small and large groups and he settled only the hard cases. And his life was much easier for it.
If you have advice for me, bring it on! I will try very hard to listen and give you a genuine smile of thanks.
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