The Explanation

Moses had a father-in-law named Jethro. He heard the news everyone was talking about. God had brought Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand!

Jethro brought Moses' wife Zipporah and his two sons out to the desert, to the mountain of God, where Moses was camped. When Moses saw his father-in-law coming, he ran out to meet him. He bowed low, then kissed him. "How are you?" they asked each other. Then they went into the tent to talk.

Moses told Jethro everything. How Yahweh had crushed Pharaoh. How the people had suffered on the road, and how God had saved them anyway. Jethro's face must have lit up as he listened. "Blessed be Yahweh!" he shouted. "Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods!" He brought an offering to God, and Aaron and all the leaders of Israel came and ate bread together with him. It was a feast day.

But the next morning, Jethro saw something that worried him. Moses sat down to judge the people's problems, from morning until evening, a whole long day. And the people stood in a line around him the entire time, waiting their turn.

"What are you doing?" Jethro asked. "Why do you sit alone while everyone stands around you all day?"

Moses explained. "The people come to me to ask about God. I judge between them, and I teach them God's laws."

Jethro shook his head. "This is not good. You will wear yourself out, and the people too. This job is too heavy for one man alone."

What Does This Mean?

Jethro had good advice. "Find capable men," he said, "men who respect God and cannot be bribed. Put them in charge of groups, some over a thousand people, some over a hundred, some over fifty, some over ten." The small problems, those leaders could solve themselves. Only the hardest cases needed to come to Moses.

This way, Jethro said, Moses would not collapse from tiredness, and the people could go home in peace. Moses listened. He did not think he had to do everything by himself just because he was the leader. He chose good men and shared the work. It made things lighter for everyone.

The Common Thread

Long before this day, Moses stood all alone. He faced Pharaoh alone. He crossed the sea leading the people alone. But God never wanted Moses to carry everything by himself forever. God gave him helpers.

This is how God works throughout the whole Bible. He does not want one person to carry the weight alone. Much later, Jesus chose twelve friends to help carry his work. He sent them out two by two. God's people were always meant to help each other, to share the load, because no one, not even the strongest leader, can do everything alone.

For You

Do you ever feel like you have to do everything yourself? Maybe cleaning your whole room, or solving a problem all alone, without asking for help?

Moses was the leader of a whole nation, and even he needed help. That is not weakness. That is wisdom. This week, think of one thing that feels too heavy for you. Ask someone, your mom, dad, a friend, to help carry it with you. And think of someone else who looks tired. Could you help carry their load too?

Talk About It

Why do you think Moses listened to Jethro instead of saying "I can do this myself"?

Who could you help this week, so they do not have to carry something alone?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank you that you never want us to be alone with things that are too heavy. Thank you for people who help us. Show me today who I can help carry something for. Amen.