Today I read Exodus 18, in which Jethro visits Moses and Moses takes his advice. Today I consider how guidance from parents can make our lives easier and the Bible lists qualifications of leaders.
Guidance from Godly Parents
Sometimes parents can help their children find an easier way to do things. Jethro was the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, when he came to check on Moses (Exodus 18:1-7). Moses spent all day judging the people (Exodus 18:13-14). Jethro told Moses to teach the people laws, divide Israel into smaller and larger groups, and put a leader over each group to judge the easy matters (Exodus 18:20-22). Moses still judged the hard matters. We can learn from Moses’ father figure can sometimes share the burden of the smaller things in our families and work groups to make it easier on us.
Qualifications for Leaders
Leaders should meet the qualifications laid out in the Bible (Exodus 18:20-21). Leaders should know God’s law and respect God. They should be honest, generous, and hating greed. Leaders also need the ability to handle the burden of taking care of the number of people they rule over. Some can hand ten people, others a hundred, and others a thousand depending on their abilities. We should pray for leaders to appear in our areas that meet God’s qualifications.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Jethro’s advice to Moses about leaders being over different amounts of people is being followed all over the world today. In the United States we have the Census Bureau to help determine the estimated population of the villages, towns, cities, counties, and states with Census numbers affecting redrawing district lines and sometimes changing classification of a location by the population. Each type of location has leaders from councilmen to mayors to governors elected to represent the people.
Since we are using the Bible’s system as our foundation, have you ever gone by Exodus 18:21 to help you determine who you should vote for?