Delegating Responsibility (Exodus 18)

Can the elderly offer sensible, inspired advice? Is delegating responsibility a wise course of action? Was it God’s will for Moses to share authority with leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens? Let’s look at Exodus 18.

Had Moses sent his wife and sons back to his father-in-law?

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away, and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”. The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.” (Exodus 18:1-4 WEB)

What happened at the reunion of Moses and Jethro?

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife back to him in the desert where he had set up camp at God’s mountain. He sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons.” Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other how they were doing, and then they went into the tent. Moses then told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel’s behalf, all the difficulty they had on their journey, and how the Lord had rescued them. (Exodus 18:5-8 CEB)

Did Jethro praise God for Israel’s escape to freedom?

Jethro was so pleased to hear this good news about what the Lord had done, that he shouted, “Praise the Lord! He rescued you and the Israelites from the Egyptians and their king. Now I know that the Lord is the greatest God, because he has rescued Israel from their arrogant enemies.” Jethro offered sacrifices to God. Then Aaron and Israel's leaders came to eat with Jethro there at the place of worship. (Exodus 18:9-12 CEV)

Did Jethro have some advice for his son-in-law Moses?

The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 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 do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. (Exodus 18:13-17 ESV)

What would happen if Moses continued doing everything without delegating?

“You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone. Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him. Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. (Exodus 18:18-20 HCSB)

To whom should Moses delegate responsibilities?

You are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they’ll bear it with you. If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will also go to their homes in peace.” (Exodus 18:21-23 ISV)

What happened after Moses heeded Jethro’s wise advice?

So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land. (Exodus 18:24-27 KJV)

Can the elderly offer sensible, inspired advice? Is delegating responsibility a wise course of action? Was it God’s will for Moses to share authority with leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens? You decide!