Day 81 — Sharing the Work Wisely

Day 81 · Helping Others Follow Christ · Exodus 18:13-27 (NET2)

Jethro sees that Moses’ way of carrying the people’s disputes is wearing out both leader and people. He offers counsel about teaching, shared responsibility, and trustworthy helpers. Moses listens. Helping others does not mean becoming indispensable or doing everything alone. Wisdom makes room for others to serve, while giving them clear guidance and appropriate responsibility.

Request

Father, make me humble enough to receive counsel and share responsibility. Amen.

Read

Exodus 18:13-27

¹³ On the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴ When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

¹⁵ Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶ When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.”

¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good! ¹⁸ You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. ¹⁹ Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you. You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; ²⁰ warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. ²¹ But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing men, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²² They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden with you. ²³ If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”

²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said. ²⁵ Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and he made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²⁶ They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.

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

Scripture: NET Bible, Second Edition (NET2).

Reflect

1. What problem does Jethro identify, and what qualities should the helpers have?
2. Where might you need help rather than trying to carry everything yourself?

Restate

Describe how sharing responsibility can serve both leaders and people.

Respond

Let the passage guide your prayer. Use these prompts in your own words:

• Praise: Praise God for wisdom given through others.
• Thanksgiving: Thank him for trustworthy helpers.
• Confession: Confess pride that refuses assistance.
• Intercession: Pray for an overburdened leader.
• Petition: Ask for discernment in equipping and trusting others.

Carry it into today: Ask for help with one responsibility, or offer dependable help to someone carrying too much.