Exodus 18:20, commentary and pictures

Moses was to keep the central work of instructing the people in God's requirements, showing them how they should live and what duties they should perform. This charge was given when he was attempting alone to judge every dispute from morning to evening, a course that was not good and would wear out both him and the people. Able, God-fearing and trustworthy men were therefore to be appointed to judge ordinary matters at all times, bringing only great and hard cases to Moses to lay before God. It is God's design that responsibility should not rest on one man alone, but should be shared with others each working in his proper place. Those who bear chief responsibility are still to stand for the people toward God, bring their causes to Him, and teach them His way, while training others to bear burdens beside them so the work endures.

Historical Setting Explained

The counsel was given when the burden on Moses was very great because the people brought all their matters of difficulty to him for instruction in the statutes and law of God, and he tried to judge every dispute alone from morning to evening. That course was not good, was too heavy for him alone to perform, and would wear away both him and the people. Responsibility and authority were not to rest supremely in one person or group, for workers and fields have different needs requiring understanding of local circumstances and service accordingly.

The counsel came through Jethro, a Gentile appointed to reveal heavenly principles, directing Moses to remain for the people toward God by bringing their causes to God. Though greatly exalted by God and though wonders were wrought by his hand, Moses was not above being instructed, but gladly listened to Jethro and adopted his plan as a wise arrangement. This teaching work of instructing the people in God's ordinances and laws and showing them the way to live and the work to do was joined to associating other men with him as counselors and rulers, so his burden would be lightened and borne with him.

The plan provided able men such as fear God, men of truth hating covetousness, to be rulers of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens to judge the people at all seasons. They were to judge every small and ordinary matter themselves and to bring only every great, hard and important matter to Moses, who would bring those cases before God. This is the pattern for what kind of men are to be chosen as counsellors to share the burdens and responsibilities in the different branches of the work and carry it forward, especially experienced older men to labor alongside young men, a lesson from God's Word for all who carry heavy responsibilities, enabling Moses to continue his appointed teaching and leadership without being overburdened. The result would be a lighter, easier burden shared and borne with him, so Moses would be able to endure and the people would go to their place in peace. The later choice of seventy elders to assist Moses in governing Israel followed this earlier need to share the burden of teaching the laws and ordinances, showing the right way to live, and explaining the duties to perform.

Teaching Responsibility Defined

Moses was to remain for the people toward God, bringing their causes to God, and to continue teaching them ordinances and laws, showing them the way wherein they must walk and how they should live, and showing them the work and duties they must do. That teaching included instructing them in regard to the statutes and law of God, answering their questions, and making God's will known. It belonged within a shared system of responsibility in which able, God-fearing, truthful men hating covetousness were placed as rulers of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens to judge the people at all seasons and at all times, deciding small and ordinary matters themselves while bringing every great, hard, difficult and important matter to Moses. By delegating the judging work instead of judging every dispute alone from morning to evening, the burden would be lighter and easier and borne with him, so Moses would be able to endure and continue his appointed teaching and leadership without being overburdened, and the people would go to their place in peace.

That instruction continued alongside the system in which appointed rulers judged ordinary disputes, while the most difficult cases came to Moses, who brought them before God. His teaching role cared for the people's religious interests, while worthy, capable and trustworthy men selected as helpers handled their secular concerns and ordinary matters. In this arrangement capable, God-fearing helpers could judge ordinary matters, leaving the difficult cases for Moses to join with bringing their causes before God, teaching God's ordinances and laws, guiding people in the way to live, and explaining the work and duties to perform.

Moses was not the lawgiver, for the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed Israel from bondage and gave the words of God's law through Moses, who served as His agent and declared their divine authority. Moses himself needed long mental and moral training before he could so guide and train others by teaching God's laws and showing how to live and what duties to perform. His years as a shepherd helped humble and purify him, and he had to unlearn false ideas from his Egyptian upbringing. God prepares those He appoints to lead by removing defects and teaching them to do His will, requiring them to be humble and to earnestly seek light while still fully exercising their minds, and Moses' training fitted him to be both a strong thinker and a doer of the word.

Leadership Pattern Applied

It is God's design that one man shall not carry all responsibilities alone, but shall teach ordinances and laws, show the way wherein men must walk and the work they must do, while sharing the work of judging and leadership rather than bearing the whole burden alone or leaving it upon one person or a few. Responsibility and authority are not to rest supremely in one person or group, for workers and fields have different needs and the work must be directed with regard for local circumstances and the distinct needs of each region. The chief leader is to be for the people toward God, bringing their causes unto God, and this with teaching remains the proper work even when able men who fear God, men of truth hating covetousness, are placed as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens to judge at all seasons, deciding every small matter themselves and bringing only every great and hard matter to him, so that he is able to endure and the people go to their place in peace. To attempt to judge every matter alone from morning to evening is not good, for it wears away both leader and people and is too heavy to perform alone.

What is expected of chief leaders, counsellors, and boards carrying a great charge is to stand for the people toward God, bring their causes to God, teach God's ordinances and laws, guide people in the way to live, and show them the duties to perform, learning these lessons from God's Word. Other chosen men are to bear the burden of judging with him, and this is the pattern for what kind of men are to be chosen to share the burdens and responsibilities of the work of God and to carry it forward. The work should be directed with the right man in the right place, each working in his own line where he has knowledge of what should be done, counseling together and sharing responsibility. God does not want one man's mind and judgment overloaded with responsibilities he cannot carry successfully, and when too much is laid on one man things that ought to be done without delay are neglected and drag, workers are left without prompt direction, and loss results.

Heavily burdened leaders must let go of responsibilities and take others by their side to teach them all they know, giving them with the advantage and counsel of their knowledge a practical knowledge of everything essential for the work. Those carrying heavy responsibilities should advise and train others to bear them rather than doing everything themselves, otherwise helpers remain dependent and lose the chance to grow in judgment and skill. Dividing the burden in this way gains a twofold object, relieving the leader so he has a better chance for life and qualifying other men to bear responsibilities in positions of trust. This keeps people from learning to look to one man and trust in one man as if nothing can be done unless it comes before him, and it prepares helpers to carry the load later when they would otherwise have to carry an unwieldy load without the instruction and counsel it is now their privilege to have. A leader must not take the position that because he has an experience others have not, they must meet his exact measurement in all particulars before he will train them.

Men must not be weighed down by so many wearing responsibilities, for the Lord does not require this. Leaders should make haste slowly, cherish the entrusted capital of health with due care, and learn wisdom by the things suffered, praying and believing and having faith in God for restoration and abundant blessing rather than laboring on to sickness unto death.