...God is always with you in the changes of life...

“13 The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening. 14 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, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?’ 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, ‘Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.’ 17 Moses” father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. 18 You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God; 20 teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do. 21 You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.’

24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country” Exodus 18:13-27.

Dear friends, immediately after his conversion Jethro was able to play a helpful role in Israel by recommending the basic structure of the judicial system, a hierarchical arrangement that placed Moses at the top of the judicial pyramid as Israel’s supreme court and established inferior courts/judges under him. Although it is not stated in the text, we can assume that Moses learned from God that Jethro's advice was acceptable.

Moses' sending “his father-in-law on his way” suggests a kind of warm, happy parting. Now Jethro, a convert to the true faith, could bring it back to Midian (“Jethro returned to his own country” in verse 27). I am guessing that it would have met with hostility there, but at least among members of Jethro's household there may have been followers of Yahweh eventually.

In the last chapter (18:2-6) Jethro's arrives at Sinai/Horeb, escorting Moses' wife and sons to be reunited with Moses. The absence of any mention of their returning to Midian with him suggests strongly that they stayed with Moses and joined the Israelite community, and there they remained. 

What strikes me about this story is that Moses’ plans changed, most especially because the trip to the Promised Land was taking years. How similar is that fact to our own lives? Our personal plans changed all through our lives, and most often it took a lot longer than we could ever imagined to complete. THAT’S LIFE!

Take some time in your prayer today and consider how much your life changed! And consider what you learned from God about the changes in your life! Where did you find God in the changes of your life? Did you you ever realize that, in all your changes in life, God was always present? 

If there is one thing in my life that I know, God is always present. So today pray for faithful living and remember that God is with you. You are never alone even though life is constantly changing! Don’t give up! Don’t give into your temptation to live without God! God is right there with you in all your changes in life!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner!