Verse for the Day, 24 July 2014.

Exodus 18:13-23  The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till 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, and all the people stand around you from morning till 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 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."  (17)  Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.  (18)  You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.  (19)  Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God,  (20)  and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.  (21)  Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.  (22)  And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.  (23)  If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."

There are times in life when pride can work in a very subtle manner, to the point that it doesn’t even give to us the appearance of pride. Whilst Moses was a remarkable man, a man who was humble and godly, in this passage he wrongly assumes that it is up to him and him alone to be the judge over all Israel. While it is not an overt, ugly pride, it is pride nonetheless, he failed to look beyond himself, to see if there were other competent men, and he presumed that God would not, or could not do this work through others. God may have spoken through Moses and revealed first to Moses His laws and statutes, but this did not mean that Moses had the monopoly. His task was to teach and instruct the people in the laws and statutes of God, so that they themselves could understand them, apply them and abide by them.

God in His grace towards Moses, sends Jethro, a man with wisdom and age. He witnesses what Moses is doing and then earnestly advises Moses to make some changes. He advises that wise, godly men be found to serve as judges over the people and when a difficult case is brought forward, they are to then bring that case to Moses. Moses’ primary function is to, under God, lead the people and instruct them in God’s laws and statutes. If he gives himself to this task and does it well, he will not only teach the people, he will also equip the other judges so that they might do what is right and pleasing in God’s sight. Through this means the nation would be at greater peace and Moses’ physical health would be preserved. The people would have their cases heard and decided quicker, men would be equipped to become better leaders and teachers of the ways of God, and Moses could give himself to the work that God had called him to. As a result the whole nation would prosper.

We are naïve to think that we are the only ones God can use, and we are equally wrong to think that God cannot use us. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have received God’s Spirit, who equips us for the good works prepared beforehand for us to do. He equips us to serve God, to serve His Church, to know, understand and apply His Word more and more in our lives and to be His witnesses. We are called to be humble, ready and willing. If we are already at work in God’s service, we should be constantly looking as to how we can encourage other Christians to serve the Lord, seeking to teach and equip them to do the work, rather than thinking we have to do it all ourselves. If we are not at work in God’s service, because we think we cannot be used, we need to remind ourselves that God uses the least to shame the greatest, the weakest to shame the strongest. God takes people who are broken, imperfect and blemished, and transforms them through Christ and through His Spirit, all so that we might spend our lives in His service. We are called to be willing and to be active in His kingdom work, trusting that as we take up the work, He will equip us.

Lord Jesus Christ, head of the Church, we are humbled today by the reality that You use we who are sinful, broken and foolish in the advancement, growth and maturity of Your kingdom. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who equips us all so that we can be used by You to great effect. May we not doubt Your ability to transform, equip and enable us to serve You. We pray that it will be to us a joy and delight to serve You, and to help others to be able to better serve You. We also pray that You would guard our hearts against pride and thinking that it all depends upon us. Help us to be Your humble, joyful, willing servants. Amen.