The Echelon Principle

Our message for this evening is entitled “The Echelon Principle.” I am not going to tell you what an echelon is just yet; however, some of you might already know. I will tell you that it has something to do with playing on the same team, and striving together toward a common goal and purpose. Therefore, “make a note to self” that our message deals with working together in building God’s kingdom.

Trying to Do It Alone (vv. 13-16)

13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 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?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

We find here that Moses sat in the seat of judge among the people, deciding right from wrong in difficult matters and civil disputes. Moses also served the people by being a spiritual guide, by making known the statutes of God. He had a difficult task to perform, one that took a great deal of time and energy, for there was a large amount of people to watch over. In Exodus 12:37-38, we read the head-count of the great multitude of people for which Moses was responsible. These verses tell us, “Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also.”

The group of Israelites for which Moses was responsible included 600,000 men, probably around 600,000 women, and perhaps that many children as well. We also read that there was a mixed multitude that went up with them. This mixed multitude included people other than the descendants of Abraham, who took advantage of the opportunity to escape their bondage. Moses was looking at somewhere around 2 million people. This was an incredible amount of people to minister to by oneself. It was more than likely that Moses could not reach everyone, and there were probably some things that were neglected and went unattended.

Tired and Worn Out (vv. 17-18)

17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 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.

Some of us will look at Moses and say, “Wow, what a model for leadership!” But his father-in-law Jethro said, “The thing that you do is not good” (v. 17). What Moses was doing was not very smart, and his father-in-law pointed it out. He said, “This thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself” (v. 18). Jethro was telling Moses that if he tried to do everything by himself that he would wear himself out. There is no way that he could minister to nearly 2 million people all by himself. Yes, Moses was the spiritual leader, but he was only one man. If all the Israelites were going to receive spiritual guidance, then others needed to help Moses with the task.

How many times have you seen individuals within a church who are trying to take on more than one responsibility? For example, someone might be a deacon / administrator / church bus driver / committee member / Sunday school teacher. And when you look at such an individual, you can see that he or she is getting burnt out. It’s not because they don’t like what they are doing, but it’s because a person is not made to take on such an unbearable load. As Jethro was telling Moses, it’s not good to take on too much, for if we do, then we will burn out.

You Can’t Do It Alone (vv. 19-23)

19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”