Exodus 18-19

“The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (18:18). Jethro saw that his son-in-law Moses was burning himself out by judging every dispute of the people, “from morning until evening” (18:13). Moses’ conviction that he alone could judge the people was wearing them all out (18:18). Jethro told Moses to choose “trustworthy men” to judge normal cases and only bring Moses “the difficult ones” (18:22), leaving Moses to focus on his main task: to represent the people before God and teach them how to live (18:19-20).

“If you do this ... you will be able to stand the strain” (18:23). God designed us to need each other. Letting others share burdens and work gives us power to “stand the strain.”