Exodus 18:19-20
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Jethro doesn't just tell Moses to delegate; he calls Moses to be the representative of the people before God. This means Moses' crucial role isn't just about bringing cases to God, but about being the one God speaks through to the people, especially concerning the deeper spiritual and foundational matters.
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, 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, observes the overwhelming burden Moses carries by judging every dispute brought by the Israelites from morning till night. Recognizing that this pace is unsustainable and will exhaust both Moses and the people, Jethro offers practical advice to delegate judicial authority to capable leaders, freeing Moses to focus on his primary role as mediator between God and the people.
Moses was swamped! Jethro's advice wasn't just about delegation; it was about clarifying Moses' unique role. What did it mean to be 'for the people to God-ward'?
The Divine Connection
Jethro recognized that Moses had a special, God-given role that couldn't be handed over. This role involved being the primary link between the Israelites and God. Notice how the verse says Moses was to "represent the people before God" and "bring their cases to God." This wasn't just about solving disputes; it was about mediating, bringing the community's needs, questions, and struggles directly into God's presence.
A Sacred Trust
This wasn't a task for just anyone. It required someone appointed by God, someone who could stand in that unique space. When difficult or unique matters arose, Moses was to be the one to approach God, seeking divine guidance and wisdom. This elevated his role beyond that of a mere judge or leader; he was a spiritual conduit for the entire nation.
Jethro's counsel wasn't just about Moses bringing things to God, but also about what happened after. There was a crucial outflow from God back to the people through Moses.
Teaching God's Statutes
While Moses was to bring the difficult cases to God, he was also tasked with ensuring the people understood God's directives. The counsel Jethro offers extends beyond just mediating disputes. It includes teaching the people God's ordinances and laws. This means Moses was to interpret and communicate God's will, not just in response to immediate problems, but as a foundational aspect of his leadership.
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Guiding Their Steps
This teaching wasn't meant to be abstract. Jethro emphasizes that Moses should "show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they should do." This practical application of God's law was essential for the people's daily lives and their journey. Moses' role, therefore, was a two-way street: bringing the people's concerns to God and bringing God's wisdom and guidance back to the people.
Understand the original words
ʿāmad lip̱nê · Hebrew Verb phrase
To stand in the place of another or to act as a mediator or intercessor. It implies acting as a representative before a superior authority to present petitions or matters on behalf of others.
dābār · Hebrew Noun
Legal claims, disputes, or grievances brought before a judicial authority. It represents the specific matters requiring a decision or verdict based on the application of God's law.
zāhar · Hebrew Verb
To admonish, caution, or instruct clearly, often with a sense of urgency. It involves conveying authoritative knowledge to prevent error or to ensure adherence to God's expectations.
derek · Hebrew Noun
The manner of life, conduct, or moral direction that a person follows. In Scripture, it signifies the path of obedience and faith that aligns with God's commands.
This verse highlights a crucial organizational development in Israel's early history, moving from a direct, albeit overloaded, mediation by Moses to a structured system of justice. It shows God's concern not just for spiritual matters but for practical governance, ensuring His people receive fair judgment.
c. 1447 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, led by Moses, escape from slavery in Egypt after 400 years of oppression, marking a pivotal moment of liberation and God's covenantal faithfulness.
c. 1447 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God delivers the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses on Mount Sinai, establishing the covenant framework for Israel's life as a nation.
c. 1447 BC— this verse
Jethro's Visit to Moses
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, visits the Israelite camp and observes Moses' overwhelming workload as he judges the people's disputes from morning to evening.
c. 1447 BC
Implementation of a Judicial System
Following Jethro's advice, Moses establishes a system of subordinate judges to handle lesser matters, reserving only the most significant cases for himself and God.
This passage shows Moses bringing difficult cases directly to God for guidance, mirroring Jethro's advice to bring 'causes unto God'.
Deuteronomy 1:12-18This passage recounts Moses explaining the burden of leadership and God's instruction to select capable leaders, reflecting the practical advice given by Jethro for managing judicial responsibilities.
1 Samuel 8:4-5Here, the elders of Israel ask for a king 'like the other nations,' demonstrating a desire for a different system of governance than the one Moses established, which Jethro's counsel helped refine.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10Paul's experience with his 'thorn in the flesh' being given so he wouldn't become conceited highlights the divine wisdom in placing limits on human strength and the importance of relying on God's power, a principle echoed in Jethro's concern for Moses's well-being.
pulpitExodus 18:19: "Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:"
Verse 19. - I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Rather - "And may God be with thee!" May God incline thine heart to accept my counsel and act upon it. Be thou for the people to God-ward, etc. "Continue," i.e., as at present, to be the intermediary between God and the people - still be the whole and sole…
calvinExodus 18:13-27: "And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening."
And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
Et videns socer Mosis omnia quae faciebat ipse erga populum, dixit, Quid est quod tu facis populo? quare tu sedes solus, e…
Jethro doesn't just tell Moses to delegate; he calls Moses to be the representative of the people before God. This means Moses' crucial role isn't just about bringing cases to God, but about being the one God speaks through to the people, especially concerning the deeper spiritual and foundational matters.
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, observes the overwhelming burden Moses carries by judging every dispute brought by the Israelites from morning till night. Recognizing that this pace is unsustainable and will exhaust both Moses and the people, Jethro offers practical advice to delegate judicial authority to capable leaders, freeing Moses to focus on his primary role as mediator between God and the people.
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, observes the overwhelming burden Moses carries by judging every dispute brought by the Israelites from morning till night. Recognizing that this pace is unsustainable and will exhaust both Moses and the people, Jethro offers practical advice to delegate judicial authority to capable leaders, freeing Moses to focus on his primary role as mediator between God and the people.
"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, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must…" — Jethro doesn't just tell Moses to delegate; he calls Moses to be the representative of the people before God. This means Moses' crucial role isn't just about bringing cases to God, but about bein…
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Last reviewed October 2026
