Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, May 24, 2025. This is Day 7 of Week 6 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 42nd Day of Counting.

While Jethro was visiting Moses in the camp of ancient Israel, he provided some sound advice to help Moses deal with the immense number of leadership issues, including one of judging (arbitrating, giving rulings, decisions, and verdicts) on various matters.

Judgment (decisions) on all matters from the top done was cumbersome and unnecessary. It was a hardship on the people as well as upon Moses. Therefore, a wise and practical suggestion was implemented. Part of it involved the character of the men to be chosen. And, a second part of it involved teaching the people the law so they were active participants in receiving justice and knowing that they had received it. It provided confidence in leadership.

Men who were to provide “justice” for the Israelites were to be

• Men who loved truth
• Able men with good judgment (wisdom), discernment of truth, and knowledge of the law
• Men who feared God and who would not be swayed by any form of coercion, threats, or flattery
• Men who would not give into bribery

Let’s read these characteristics in the language of the King James Bible.

Exodus 18:19-22 (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: (20) And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. (21) Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: (22) And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

It is clear from Exodus 18 that there was some form of “law” already in place before the 10 Commandments, statutes, and ordinances were given as part of the covenant in codified form at Mt. Sinai. The people were to be taught that “law.” The leaders chosen to judge were to use that “law.” Everyone was involved, and everyone could know what the outcome needed to be once all the details were known and the “law” was applied correctly.

God’s people need to have confidence in the men who lead them; they need to know what God expects.

Ancient Israel apparently had many ideas about what a leader was and was not suppose to do. Frequently throughout their journey in the wilderness, they falsely accused the leaders, including God. They were stubborn, self-willed, and rebelled in different ways. It made sense that God would set forth characteristics of leadership that everyone could learn, understand, and recognize in leaders. The characteristics listed for leaders can guide us today.

God bless us all to learn and apply God’s standard for all we do.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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