Counsel



Exo 18:19  Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. 

     Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. 

Exo 18:20  Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what 

     to do. 



     Moses had gone off to Egypt to deliver a nation from the bondage of slavery. He 

had been used by God in incredible ways to speak to Pharaoh and bring great judgement 

upon the land. Though he had been reluctant to do so, he had obeyed the voice of the Lord 

and had experienced the awesome power of God manifested as a result of his obedience. He 

had developed a keen ability to hear and heed the wisdom of God for his own life and for 

situations in the lives of the people, and, upon arriving in the desert he became very 

occupied in dealing with the everyday counsel and judgements of the people to the point 

that he was neglecting other necessities that only he could fulfill. Providing this counsel was 

something that he obviously felt compelled to do in meeting the needs of the people for 

whom he bore a great responsibility, and he probably wasn't inclined to waver from this 

course upon the suggestion of just anyone. Here he was, the man who spoke directly with 

God and heard his voice and saw his hand at work. Wouldn't you think God would just talk 

to him directly about any change he should make? 

      Apparently, before everything got too intense in Egypt, Moses had sent his wife, 

Zipporah, and their two sons back to Midian for safekeeping with his father-in-law, Jethro. 

But now, since Moses and the Israelites were now safely in the wilderness, Jethro had 

brought Moses' family to be with him again. In the few days that Jethro hung out with 

Moses before going back to Midian they engaged in conversation that went from Moses 

describing the incredible details of the exodus from Egypt to Jethro speaking to him about 

how he was running things. In this interchange can be found insight into the relationship 

between these men and the honor and humility with which they regarded one another. 

     Moses, in fleeing Egypt long ago, had found much more than just a father-in-law in 

this man, Jethro. Basically, he came to Midian as a criminal, with a greatly disillusioned 

passion for the deliverance of his people and no relationship with the God that would bring 

that to pass. There must have been a great bond created between them as Jethro provided 

Moses with an atmosphere of worship and reverence for the presence and voice of God. 

Jethro possibly became a mentor and a father figure to him, providing stability and wisdom 

where there had been chaos and confusion. In him he had learned to place great honor and 

appreciation so that what Jethro spoke was not just the words of anyone speaking, but it was 

the counsel of God to his life. Moses' heart had developed a receptiveness to Jethro's counsel 

and it was now very natural for him to humbly receive and apply the wisdom that came from 

his mouth:


Exo 18:24  Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. 
 


     There are great things that God will do in our lives as we give ourselves to a life of 

worship and heeding His Word. We will be filled with understanding as the ear is developed 

in listening to the voice of the Spirit. But, possibly right after a great victory, when we're 

going full blast with what we feel is the Lord's work, there is a need to be open and receptive 

to counsel that has found a place of honor in one who has proven themself to know and 

represent God in our lives. Sometimes our passion for the action of His work can blur our 

vision of the wisdom in how it should be performed. In maintaining a heart of true worship, 

though, where there is only a desire for glory to be given to God, we are able to have an 

attitude of humility so that words of wisdom become, for us, welcome direction and 

correction from the heart of God. When our eyes are on the prize of His purpose and 

presence any counsel for change in method or procedure is not seen as a source of 

discouragement or failure, but as a revelation of divine wisdom and insight. While this 

counsel may not come from just anyone, there will be those God will bring across our path 

who will prove themselves through relationship to bear wisdom and understanding of the 

ways of God. In listening and doing what is spoken as it bears witness with our spirit there 

will be access given to the perfect will of God in our lives and the fruit of righteousness it will 

produce. 
                                



3/16/04