Jethro advised Moses to set up a system of leaders because Moses could not bear the burden of judging all Israel alone.
The people surrounded Moses from morning until evening with disputes and questions. Jethro saw that this would wear Moses out. He recommended appointing able, God-fearing men as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, who would judge the smaller matters and bring only the great matters to Moses.
Exodus 18:18 — Jethro explicitly warns Moses that the task is too heavy for him alone.
Exodus 18:21 — Jethro describes the kind of leaders Moses should appoint.
Exodus 18:22 — Jethro explains how the leaders will share the burden with Moses.
When Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, saw Moses sitting to judge the people from morning till evening, he asked why Moses sat alone with all the people standing around him (Exodus 18:14-15). Moses explained that the people came to inquire of God and to have their disputes settled (Exodus 18:15-16). Jethro replied, "Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone" (Exodus 18:18). Jethro then advised Moses to provide able men who feared God, were men of truth, and hated covetousness, and to place them as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens (Exodus 18:21). These leaders would judge the people at all seasons and bring only the great matters to Moses, so that both Moses and the people could stand (Exodus 18:22).
In the available segments, Les does not explicitly comment on Jethro's name. However, his teaching consistently emphasizes that Israel was never a mob but an orderly nation with a chain of command. Les points out that God directed Moses to take the elders of Israel with him when striking the rock at Horeb (Exodus 17:5-6), and he describes how Moses worked through the heads of the tribes in a military-like structure. This aligns with the principle behind Jethro's advice: no single leader should carry the entire burden of the people alone. Les also reminds us that Moses, despite his Egyptian training and power, could not be used by God until he depended on God rather than his own preparation. The need for a system of leaders reflects the same lesson—the work of guiding Israel was beyond any one man, and God's plan involved shared, organized leadership.
Jethro told Moses to select able men from all the people who feared God, were trustworthy, and hated dishonest gain. He was to put them in place as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. These men would judge the everyday disputes, while every great matter would still be brought to Moses.
Les describes Israel as an ordered nation moving by a chain of command through the heads of the tribes. He also stresses that God instructed Moses to take the elders of Israel with him at key moments, such as when he struck the rock. This shows that God's design included a shared leadership structure rather than one man handling everything alone.
Christ the Rock: Spiritual Warfare & The Battle with Amalek
East. And I don't think they know why. Of course, it's good economics. Do you realize, I read here a while back, the nation of Czechoslovakia, that little nation in Eastern Europe, over 80 percent, if I remember right, over 80 percent of its basic production income comes from what do you suppose? War material. War material. Tanks, guns, rockets, what have you.
Moses, the Ark, and the Second Coming: Unlocking the Prophetic Pattern
He had it all. And on top of that, he was probably the economist. He was probably the chairman of the federal, well, I lost my word, for the banking system. He was probably, see, yeah. And he was in charge of just about everything in Egypt. And there was a lot of economics involved.
Elders with Moses
Les teaches that God specifically instructed Moses to take the elders of Israel with him when he faced the crisis of water at Horeb, illustrating that leadership was shared.
The 3-Day Journey: How Exodus Foreshadows the Resurrection of Christ
The frogs were gods, the moon was a god, the sun was a god, and every animal you could think of was a god, and they all had a name. So when Moses and Aaron came and say, The God of Israel, Jehovah, is going to lead the children out, Pharaoh's natural response was, Well, who's Jehovah? He's just another one of your gods, but he doesn't mean anything to me.
Why Israel Rejected Moses — And Then Rejected Christ
So when he was 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. Now here again, this is the first time that Moses will approach the children of Israel as their deliverer. Now of course, God was not in it specifically here. God did not instruct him.
Israel's Chain of Command
Les shows how Israel moved out of Egypt in an orderly way, with heads of tribes and a military-style chain of command, not as a mob.
Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross
He does not feel that he can approach Pharaoh. And after 40 years, I think we can all identify with that. He had lost his polish, which he, of course, had when he went out to deliver the children of Israel the first time, and they rejected him. He had been 40 years in Pharaoh's palace. No doubt he had all the wisdom of Egypt at his disposal.
Elders and the Rock
Les repeats the account of Moses taking the elders of Israel with him when God told him to strike the rock, reinforcing the principle of involving other leaders.
Exodus 18:13: 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.
This verse describes the situation that prompted Jethro's advice.
Exodus 18:18: Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
Jethro's warning that Moses could not carry the burden alone.
Exodus 18:21: 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:
Jethro's instruction on the kind of leaders Moses should appoint.
Exodus 18:22: 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.
Jethro explains how the delegated leaders would lighten Moses' load.
Exodus 17:5: And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
Les references this verse to show God's use of elders alongside Moses in the wilderness.
Moses was judging all the people from morning to evening, and the people stood around him with every matter. Jethro saw that this was too heavy for one man and that Moses and the people would both suffer from the strain.
Jethro said Moses should choose able men who feared God, were truthful, and hated covetousness. These men would be placed over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
Watch the Teaching: Christ the Rock: Spiritual Warfare & The Battle with Amalek