An End To Micro-Managing The People
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law comes for a visit and sees how Moses spends his day hearing all of the matters of the people. They are a great multitude and Moses is exhausted by the people every day; trying to sort out all of their problems. It would be like the Director of the greater Chicago/Cook County Food Stamp Program; personally trying to hear all 900,000 cases. Moses was killing himself! Jethro speaks to Moses and tells him that he needs to continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to the LORD. He should also teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Also, show them how to conduct their lives. As for judging the people’s daily concern, he should select leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. These leaders are to hear the needs of the individual and settle all of the day to day problems.
Exodus 18:17-24 ESV 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." (24) So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
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| The LORD Speaking to Israel at Mt. Sinai |
When Moses leads the Children to Mount Sinai, he goes up to the mountain to talk with God. The LORD tells him that he will appear before the people and speak to them about His Law and Covenant. The LORD tells Moses to have the people wash their clothes and consecrate themselves by abstaining from any marital relations for three days and that on the third day, He, The LORD would speak to them. So Moses returns to the people and speaks to the elders and has the people prepare to meet with the LORD.
Exodus 19:9-11 ESV And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, (10) the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments (11) and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Exodus 19:16-20 ESV On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. (17) Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. (18) Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. (19) And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. (20) The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
God begins by telling Israel what He has done for them. This is a two party contract. God rescued and redeemed the entire nation from bondage. This was God’s side of the contract, which he already performed. By God making Israel His people, and showing them; numerous times up to this point; of His continual saving grace; God is telling Israel, “Look, you see the great lengths that I have gone through to make you my people; my salvation, my deliverance, my miracles that sustain you every day with food, water and protection; now here is your end of the contract. This is what is expected of you; to be my people:
The Ten Commandments of God: These are not the commandments of Moses or the Law of Moses. This is not part of that which will become the “Ceremonial Law.” These laws were given in the Garden of Eden, reinforced by Noah, for the whole world, before the Jews (Else, upon what standard could God condemn the entire world?) and carried on by Abraham (He left his family who were in the idol making business), Isaac and Jacob (The laws of adultery and rape and murder were upon Jacob at Shechem), more that four hundred years before Mount Sinai. They are eternal and will be kept on into eternity. When asked about what to do to have eternal life; Jesus said, Keep the commandants:
The Ten Commandments
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus Chapter 20 and Verse 3
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Verses 4-6
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Verse 7
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Verse 8
5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Verse 12
6. Thou shalt not kill. Verse 13
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Verse 14
8. Thou shalt not steal. Verse 15
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Verse 16
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Verse 17
In Jesus’ instruction to the rich man in the story from Matthew 19, Jesus said that the least we need to do is to embrace the Ten Commandments. Now Jesus was not saying that we can earn our salvation. No one ever could perfectly keep the commandments. By this point in Jesus’ life, He already expanded the ten commandments to go far beyond that which was given at Mount Sinai. He said that not a single period, comma, dotting or crossing of a letter would be taken away from the Law. The Law that He is referring to is the Ten Commandments. People want to believe that the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross. This is not true. Jesus said, “Until heaven and earth pass away the Law will stand. He expanded the letter of the law to include the intent of the heart. The scribes and Pharisees were known to pride themselves on keeping the law, yet Jesus said that we are to exceed that! Jesus further describes how riches can blind us and distort our perspective so that it is next to impossible for the rich to enter in to the Kingdom of God. We have all known of, if only from the news how the rich many times believe they are above the laws of the land, and how money can buy a rich person out of trouble. It appears that not much has changed in two thousand years in the area of human nature. We have to die to self daily in order to embrace the spirit of the law.
Matthew 5:17-21 ESV "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (18) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (19) Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (21) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
Laws give us freedom. We want our lives, families and property protected. Without the Law, we would have anarchy. Yet we have all broken the law of God and are guilty of sin. Jesus didn’t come to take away the Law; He came to provide a remedy for sin. Let’s embrace both the letter and the intent of the law. David said that loving the law made him happy. He has my agreement on this!
Psalms 119:97-104 ESV Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. (98) Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. (99) I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. (100) I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. (101) I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. (102) I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. (103) How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (104) Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Psalms 119:165 ESV Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your law has established peaceful communities for us to live in. My praise is to you and I do love your law and all of its benefits. Lead me to your blessings in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright © 2011 Thomas C. Blake
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