Exodus 18:17
“Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.”
What does Exodus 18:17 mean?
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, has just watched Moses spend an entire day settling disputes for the Israelites, and he's concerned about what he's seeing. He's not being harsh or disrespectful, but speaking as someone who cares: this approach will wear Moses out and leave the people frustrated waiting their turn. Jethro is about to offer wisdom that Moses clearly needs to hear, even though Moses is the one who led them out of Egypt and received God's law. Sometimes the people closest to us can see what we're too exhausted or too caught up in the moment to notice ourselves. This is a gentle reminder that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, and that accepting counsel from those who love us can actually be the wisest thing we do.