Jethro, Moses and the Burning, Not Burned Up, Bush

Moses was called by God from a burning bush that burned but was not consumed. God is the only one who can burn and not be consumed. In the lesson I read today from Dr. Swindoll I learned that without the advice of his father-in-law, Jethro, Moses would have been consumed. The story is in Exodus 18.

After Jethro had heard about Moses' experiences in Egypt, he came to find Moses. He was excited about Moses' work and did not begin with criticism but with excitement and praise. After a good party he watched Moses at work and ask him two questions: What are you doing and Why are you doing it alone? For this is what he noticed "¹⁷ Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone."

The Hebrew word used for wear yourselves out is one used to mean wither. The first thing that happens to us when we do too much is that we loose our distinction. When we try to add additional elements to our work we weaken what we are best at doing, the gift God gave us to do. This idea is powerful and has made me stop and take a close look at my life. What are the essential elements in my life? What is it that God has gifted me to do?

Another thing about withering away is that you see it in someone's face. You see people fade away. Withering is a gradual thing. Gradually your eyes become dim and you look becomes grim. No one is attracted to an always grim looking individual. I think that I have learned that you can only hide withering away for awhile. So for a teacher you can't build relationships with students if you look is dim and there is no brightness in your eyes. If you are always tired then that look is seen by students as anger and critical judgment. They see you as putting them down and you no longer can be the encourager that you must be as a teacher.

It is the wise man that can see withering away in himself, but it is the even wiser man who asksto his friends and family if they see withering. Moses didn't see it in himself. It was Jethro who saw it. No one is so great or so gifted that he or she can't learning from someone who has their good at heart.

Here is the counsel that Jethro gave to Moses and God gives to us. (And God has given to me through Dr. Swindoll with the Beautiful Music playing on my iPod)

• Separate the essential from the additional - every job has these two elements. The essential are the things that God has called you and gifted you to do. But there are things that are additional. They are good things, things that have to be done. The danger is in adding so many of these that we reach the breaking point. "Our real problems tend to occur not in our essential area, but in those additional areas that we take on and attempt to maintain.
• Restrain yourself more, involve yourself less. " The body needs so much work, so much rest, so much relief, and can handle only so much strain. Disregard that, and something snaps."
• Efficiency increases as we relinquish. Doing more does not guarantee effectiveness.
• When a Jethro shows up in your life, listen to what he has to say. It is hard to say no when you love everything, but if you don't listen to the Jethros in your life you will pay a terrible price.

My God and Loving Father,
Thank you for this wonderful lesson. Thank you for sending a Jethro in my life. Thank you for giving me this sabbatical. Let me keep the lessons I have learned here and always keep times of sabbatical in work. While they won't be a whole semester, teach me to take daily ones. Teach me what is essential in my life and my work. Teach me how to say no to the additional. Keep my from fading away. Restore the light in my eyes. Help me to see when other people are fading and be a Jethro.