Exodus 18:15
“Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.”
What does Exodus 18:15 mean?
Moses is explaining to Jethro why people keep coming to him all day long. They're bringing their disputes and questions to him because they believe he has direct access to God's wisdom and guidance. It's a simple statement, but it reveals something important: the people saw Moses as their spiritual leader, someone who could help them understand God's will for their problems. What Moses doesn't yet realize in this moment is that he's burning himself out trying to be the only intermediary between God and the community. His father-in-law will soon point out that this unsustainable load is wearing him down, and will suggest a better system of delegating these responsibilities. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by helping others, this setup might sound familiar.