Avoid a Power Outage

Scripture:  Exodus  18:14-26 - And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and His laws. 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 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. 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.  23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

When I was a little girl, I remember when my parents didn’t have 220 house power.  When we used too many electrical appliances at the same time, there would be a power outage.  In the dark my father would find his flashlight and go downstairs in the basement to see which circuit breaker blew out.  Then we would have to go to the corner store to purchase the correct round small circuit breakers to replace the one/ones that were no longer working.  That used to be such a nuisance.  My father would be fussing, my mother would be nervous, and my sister, three brothers, and I were at that time afraid of the dark.  As time went on, of course,  we knew not to use too many electrical appliances at the same time. I’m so glad Robert and I have 220 house power and don’t have to experience that.

In Exodus 18, Moses experienced a different kind of power outage (or wearing away as it says in verse 17).  Moses would sit alone from in the morning until the evening listening to concerns, complaints of the Israelites, because they wanted to know God’s law on their concerns/matters.  Moses’ father-in-law told him that he shouldn’t being doing that alone.  It was an overload of work and that he would be always worn out. He told him to select men that feared/loved God, and that were truthful, and that hated covetousness.  He told Moses to let them judge the small matters of the people, but the big matters should still be presented to Moses.  Then Moses would be able to endure.  He wouldn’t be overwhelmed, and therefore would avoid power outages.  Do you suffer from having power outages – overextending your services to people?  It is important to ask the Lord for wisdom on how much work you should do.  Sometimes people overextend themselves because they have a need to be needed.  We have to prioritize what we do – making sure we do what the Lord has called us to do.  I have learned to say “no” in to peoples’ requests.  We should desire to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord (Philippians 2:13).  Several scriptures which are like my 220 house power scriptures are as follows.  Galatians 2:20 which says “ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Proverbs 3:56 says “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  As we walk by faith and allow the Lord to really lead us, there will be less power outages in our lives.  

Prayer:  Dear Lord:  I am so grateful that You have  forgiven me of my sin, and that I have a personal relationship with You.  Please continue to help me prioritize what You want me to do in the area of service for others.  Help me not to lean on my own understanding, and help me to allow You to direct my path.  All this I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)