Why did Jethro advise Moses, "What you are doing is not good"? Setting the Scene Exodus 18 finds Israel newly delivered from Egypt and camped at the foot of Sinai. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, a Midianite priest, arrives, rejoices in the LORD’s salvation, and then watches Moses spend the entire day settling every dispute that arises in the camp (Exodus 18:13-16). Jethro’s Observation “Then Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good.’” (Exodus 18:17) • Moses sits “from morning till evening” (v. 13). • The people stand in line all day long (v. 14). • One man tries to carry the administrative, judicial, and spiritual load for two million people. The Heart Behind “Not Good” • Unsustainable workload: “You will surely wear yourselves out—both you and these people who are with you.” (v. 18) • Bottleneck for justice: matters wait in queues; justice delayed is justice denied (cf. Deuteronomy 1:12-16, Moses’ later reflection). • Neglect of primary calling: Moses is meant to intercede for the people and teach God’s statutes (Exodus 18:19-20). The Cost of Carrying Too Much • Physical and emotional burnout for Moses (Numbers 11:14-17 shows the later toll). • Growing frustration among the people. • Stifled growth of future leaders—no room for others to exercise God-given gifts (Proverbs 11:14). God’s Design for Shared Leadership Jethro proposes delegation: “Select capable men from all the people” (Exodus 18:21). Qualifications: – God-fearing – Trustworthy – Hating dishonest gain Structure: • Officials over thousands • Hundreds • Fifties • Tens Result: “Every difficult matter they shall bring to you, but every minor matter they shall decide for themselves.” (v. 22) Benefits for Moses • Frees him to “be the people’s representative before God” (v. 19). • Preserves strength for prayer, teaching, and vision casting (Acts 6:4 echoes this pattern). Benefits for the People • Faster resolutions; fewer grievances festering. • Exposure to many righteous leaders, not just one. • A model of discipleship: qualified men observe Moses, then imitate and teach others (2 Timothy 2:2). Timeless Lessons for Believers Today • God values order and shared responsibility (1 Corinthians 12:14-26). • Bearing one another’s burdens fulfills the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). • Delegation is not abdication; it is faithfulness to God’s design for the body. • Wisdom often comes through trusted outside voices—Jethro was not an Israelite elder, yet his counsel aligned with God’s will (Proverbs 27:9). Summary Jethro’s loving rebuke—“What you are doing is not good”—exposed an overloaded system that threatened Moses’ health and Israel’s welfare. By embracing shared leadership, Moses preserved his strength, multiplied righteous judges, and ensured that God’s statutes flowed swiftly and faithfully through the nation. The account calls every generation to honor the LORD by shouldering His work together, rather than alone. |
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