Daily Devotional

“So, when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, ‘What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?’” (Exodus 18:14). 

Stress kills! According to the American Institute of Stress, three out of four doctor visits in America are for stress-related ailments. Forty- four percent of Americans feel more stressed than they did five years ago. One in five experience “extreme stress” (shaking, heart palpitations, depression), and work stress causes 10 percent of all strokes. Stress is the basic cause of 60 percent of all human illness and disease. 

Moses was under a lot of stress. After God’s deliverance of Israel through the Red Sea, the leader had his hands full as the people entered the wilderness. During this time, Jethro, his father-in-law, came to visit him. The Midianite rejoiced in hearing the remarkable stories of God’s work and worshiped with his son-in-law. 

The next day, however, Jethro observed Moses’ exhausting work of judging people who came to him with their disagreements. From morning until evening, Moses sat listening, counselling, and teaching. Nobody assisted him. Jethro could see that Moses was overloaded. “So, Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself’” (Exodus 18:17, 18). 

Jethro suggested to his son-in-law that he set up appropriate leaders over thousands, over hundreds, and over tens in order to spread out the work. Moses was happy to receive this wise advice. The counsel laid a foundation for a legal system for the Israelites that brought peace and order. It also relieved Moses of a crushing burden. 

The Lord uses a variety of people to accomplish His purposes. Jethro had the gift of wisdom. He could get to the heart of a problem quickly. Fortunately, his son-in-law was humble enough to receive his counsel. 

Lord, help me to be open to the wise counsel of others and to learn better ways to serve You.