Friday 14 November 2014

Background

The Bible is full of wisdom, much of it of a contemporarynature.

If you are someone who has a responsible job, where you areaccountable to others and folk rely on you, it is easy to thinkthat you are indispensable. You begin to feel that only you can dothe job, or at least, that no one can do it as well as you, or inthe way you want it done. I remember someone saying to me once,"The graveyards are full of indispensable people". He had a point.People die and even the most significant ultimately have theirshoes filled by others. Those others may not be as gifted ortalented as the ones who have died. But the work will go on if itis needed, and if not, better that it ceases.

This was a lesson for Moses and his father-in-law had to teachit. A father-in-law is older, has wisdom, and has already made andlearnt from the mistakes that we are planning to make unawares! Itcould equally be a mother-in-law or an aunt or uncle. These people,older than us, can so easily be dismissed as being out of touch,for not understanding the pressures of the modern world. What theyhave that we lack is experience.

So Jethro speaks to Moses. He's seen people burn themselves outbefore, perhaps. He values Moses. Maybe his daughter has beentalking... 'he's out at seven in the morning and not getting backfrom the office till after eight most nights', or whatever theequivalent was in those days. So wise words are needed from someonewho is respected and has some authority.

History says that Moses listened, that he concentrated on thosethings in which he was gifted by God. He risked delegation. Workwas shared and others got a chance to use their gifts andskills.

To Ponder

• What are you doing that someone else might do better?

• How can you make time and space to hear words of wisdom fromthose around you, young or old?