God’s Leader Needs Help

GOLDEN TEXT: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.” —Romans 12:6

JETHRO, Moses’ father-in-law, was not an Israelite, nor is there any evidence that he ever accepted and worshiped Israel’s God, Jehovah. But apparently he was a man of noble character, and of good understanding, and who acknowledged the great God of the Israelites. (vss. 11,12,23) He observed that Moses was endeavoring to counsel the individual Israelites who came to him for help, and to serve as a judge between those who had misunderstandings among themselves.

Considering the number of Israelites, probably up to two million, or perhaps more, there would be more of them needing help than Moses could possibly serve. Or so it seemed to Jethro, who watched those in line waiting to see their leader, and noting the tiring task it was for Moses to spend entire days endeavoring to serve them.

So Jethro made a suggestion to Moses that he appoint helpers, whom he referred to as rulers—“rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” (vs. 21) These were to be men of high integrity, men who loved the truth, and who could not be bribed. They were to be men who reverenced God. In other words, they were to be men whom Moses could trust and who would be capable of counseling and judging the people properly and justly.

Moses was a meek man, and gladly accepted this suggestion and acted upon it. Today we speak of this as delegating authority; and a successful leader is one who is willing and anxious to do this as need requires. In making this change, Moses did not lose his contact with the people. No doubt his subordinates reported to him any cases of special interest. Indeed, the really difficult cases they were supposed to refer to him for settlement, but apparently the appointed rulers themselves decided which cases to refer to Moses.

This arrangement suggested by Jethro really became a form of government in Israel—a government, shall we say, by counselors, with Moses the chief counselor. At a later period Israel was ruled by judges whom the Lord raised up from time to time, and still later the nation became a kingdom. All three of these are used prophetically concerning the government of Christ. This will be a kingdom in which Jesus will be the great King, and associated with him will be his faithful followers of the present age.

But this spiritual and invisible government will hove human representatives; and concerning these one of the prophecies states: “I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning.” (Isa. 1:26) These “judges” and “counselors” will be the resurrected ancient servants of God beginning with righteous Abel, and ending with John the Baptist. (Matt. 11:11; Heb. 11:4,13,39,40) These are referred to in Psalm 45:16 as the “fathers” in Israel. They will become the children of The Christ, and, as the prophet declared, will be made “princes in all the earth.”

Just as the people of Israel looked to the rulers or “counselors” appointed by Moses to be over them, and just as later, in the period of the judges, they sought help and deliverance through whatever judge might be in office at the time, so Jesus tells us that in the kingdom the people will come from east, west, north, and south, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, who will be serving as the representatives of the divine, invisible Christ.—Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:28,29

Our Golden Text reminds us that the Lord’s care over spiritual Israel during this Gospel Age is carried out to a large extent through servants whom the Lord qualifies by means of the Holy Spirit working in them. While Jesus, the Head over his body, the church, is the chief overseer, each member of the body is given responsibility, and something to do. This is clearly brought out in I Corinthians, chapter 12. There are differing gifts of the Spirit, but those who receive them work together for the common good of all, which is their upbuilding in the most holy faith, and their preparation to live and to reign with Christ.

In this illustration a human body is used to show how all work together. Jesus is the Head, and, as Paul points out, each and every member of the body has an important function to perform. One member cannot say to another, “I have no need of thee.” All are needed, and so it is among the people of God. All are servants. All have something to do for other body members.

QUESTIONS

Who was Jethro? Did he worship Israel’s God? What suggestion did he make to Moses?

What is meant in Isaiah 1:26 concerning the raising up of judges and “counselors”?

Point out some of the implications of the Golden Text as to God’s arrangements for spiritual Israel.

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