Zambia Bible Study 3

Sharing the Load

Exodus 18:1,5,8,9 10-27 (NRSV)

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses’ sons and wife to him. 6 He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons.” 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians.

13 The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God; 20 teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do. 21 You should also look for able people among all the people, people who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such people over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able people from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves.

NB. I have inclusivised the passage which speaks of able men. This is particularly important for mixed groups. You may need to ask for the local language version to be inclusivised. The Hebrew uses the masculine form but not in a strongly masculine way. If you feel you need to open this issue, I'm sure you have your own arguments. Personally I might comment

In many cultures it has been traditional for men to be the leaders Gen 3:16 talks of this as the results of sin. It is not the way that things should be. In Christ we are restored to how we should be. You could get the group to discuss Gal 3:28 - in Christ there

is no longer male or female, Jew or Gentile.

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Zambia Bible Study 3

Sharing the Load

Exodus 18:1,5,8,9 10-27 (NRSV)

Aim: To explore, within our various cultures, how we might share the load and use everyone's gifts for living and telling the story

This additional Bible study can be used in any setting e.g. Mothers Union, Mens Meeting, youth group. If can be used to further the aims of the Zambia trip but can also be used more generally. It would especially suit groups of leaders e.g. clergy, or groups where power and leadership is hierarchical.

PrologueIf you have time for this and have a group that knows something about Moses

Start with prayer or worship.Read the background to the story Exodus 18:1,5,8,9 (or all of 1-9) in English and local language. If possible ensure that each group has one copy. Candidates own Bibles or printed copies from above.

Initial response:Ask the questions one at a time and give space for discussion, or display them/ print them if able to.

In small groups (ideally 6-8 but no more than 8) of mixed cultures discuss: What can you remember of the story of Moses? As a group share the sort of

things Moses might have told Jethro about what had happened. If groups are small enough pool ideas together after discussion and fill in the

gaps with material below.

Prologue Input 1(Give the group some input about the passage for the next discussion)

Share some of the following information: Moses had been born in Egypt when the Israelites were slaves to the

Egyptians. He had been saved from death by Pharaoh's daughter (Ex 2) Having grown up he discovers one of his own people being beaten by an

Egyptian and he murders the Egyptian. He is discovered and flees to the wilderness. (Ex 2)

He helps the daughters of Jethro water their flocks (Ex 2) and ends up marrying Zipporah Jethro's daughter

While looking after Jethro's flocks he sees a burning bush and is called by God to set the Israelites free. (Ex 3-4)

Moses is quite reluctant to go and argues with God, but eventually agrees when God suggests Aaron could help him. (Ex 3-4)

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh but he will not listen. (Ex 5-6) Moses performs many signs but Pharaoh still won't listen. 10 plagues follow,

and each time Pharaoh agrees to a little more of Moses request but refuses to carry it out. (Ex 7-11)

Before the 10th plague the Israelites are told to prepare and hold a Passover meal in preparation to leave. (Ex 12)

Finally they all leave, but are pursued. Moses parts the waters and they cross the Red Sea in which Pharaoh's chariots are drowned (Ex 13-15)

The people of Israel wander around in the wilderness and God provides manna when they are hungry (Ex 16) and water from the rock when they are thirsty (Ex 17)

At this point in the story they are nearly at Mt Sinai, where God will give them all God's teaching and guidance for living as faithful people.

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HearA shorter study will start here

(Start with prayer or worship).Read Exodus 18:13-23 (stop before Moses reacts at 18:24) in English and local language. Make sure verses 21-22 are inclusivised. If possible ensure that each group has one copy. This might be the candidates own Bibles or printed copies from above.

Response 1(Do try and have an activity as well as discussion. It requires group work and is more creative than the cerebral discussions so far. You can swap for any art, music, or creative activity)

In small groups discuss How would you summarise what Jethro is suggesting Moses does?

If time do this activity: Divide the group in half (there should be no more than 4 in each half). One

half is to play Jethro and one half to play Moses. The Moses group needs to discuss all the reasons why Moses would say no to Jethro's idea. The Jethro group should come up with all the reasons why Moses should say yes to the idea.

Bring the two halves together and let the Jethro group try to persuade the Moses group to follow their suggestion (a form of role play/ debate. At the end of the time ask the group to come out of role and be themselves again. It may help for them to say I am no longer Jethro/Moses I am….

Input 2 Share some of the following In the story Moses is wise enough to follow Jethro's suggestions. The story

continues: 24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able people from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves.

Moses listened to Jethro and was humble. He was able to let go of his pride and his desire for power. Num 12:3 says "Now Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth." Humility and wisdom are the two of the characteristics required of leaders.

Response 2(If the groups do not have Bibles ask the question and read verses 19-22 again. You may need to read the questions one at a time with space to discuss

Discuss some of the following questions:With a group of leaders:

Besides humility and wisdom what are others characteristics of good leaders suggested by Jethro? What do you think of them?

What tasks do you do that could be shared with others? What stops you sharing leadership with other (lay) people? (Think about

Moses and Jethro's arguments from your previous discussion) What people might be being over looked, who have gifts we do not recognise? What would need to happen before you could use more people in the work? How could you make that happen? What do you need to change and work on?

With a mixed group: Besides humility and wisdom what are the other characteristics of good

leaders suggested by Jethro? What do you think of them? What tasks in your organisation/church/ Zambia Link are done by the leaders

but could be shared with others/ lay people? Thinking about the Moses and Jethro's arguments from your previous

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What would need to happen so that more people share in the work? What people might we be overlooking, who have gifts we do not recognise? What one thing can you do, to help make that happen?

Input 3(use this where you wish to bring a mission theme to the discussion as well)

With a church group you might like to add the following for a mission or Zambia Link theme:

One of the first tasks of a leader is to work out what needs to be done and by whom. Moses was involved in tasks that did not need to be done by him. He was trying to help every individual with their problems. This meant he could not spend time on the tasks he should be doing - prayer and teaching about the love and desires of God. How God wants people to live.

Once Moses started teaching others then those people are equipped to help individuals with their problems. More people leanrt about God's ways and were helped than Moses could manage alone

Response 3 Our churches' task is also to pray and make God's love and ways known. What tasks are we doing in our church or by our clergy that could be done by

others? What tasks could we do instead that might help us live and tell the story of

God's immense love? What training and teaching do we need to give people so they can do it? What one thing do you need to change in your life in order to do the task God

is calling you to?

Conclusion: Conclude briefly with a few comments such as.: Moses made many mistakes yet he was one of Israel's greatest leaders. We

too make mistakes and need the humility of Moses to listen to suggestions for how to do things differently. We all need Jethros to discuss things with. Who can be Jethro to you?

One of Moses mistakes was to think that he needed to do everything and meet every need. By doing this he stopped other people having a ministry and using the gifts God had given them. Moses needed to work out his specific role and then help others to fulfil their role. What is yours?

Moses under-estimated what other people could do. God calls all people to have a role in the kingdom but many people need help and confidence to see that they could do something and proper training. We need to help others see their gifts.

Finish with prayer or a time of worship

To extend this study you could then look at Acts 6:1-6 and note the similarities. Does that passage add anything further to the discussion?

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AppendixThe Bible Study methods have been inspired by

Riches, J., ed. What is Contextual Bible study?: A Practical Guide with Group Studies for Advent and Lent (London: SPCK, 2010)

Weber, Hans-Ruedi, The Book that Reads Me: A Handbook for Bible Study Enablers (Geneva: WCC Publications, 1995) or the American version The Bible Comes Alive (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1995)

Weber, Hans-Ruedi, Experiments with Bible Study (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1981) (out of print but available 2nd hand on the web)

Wink, Walter, Transforming Bible Study, 2nd edn (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990)Wink, Walter, The Bible in Human Transformation: Towards a New Paradigm for Biblical Study

(Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010)The studies have been adapted from ideas in Hans-Reudi Weber's books.

For more information on the passages commentary extracts are available for facilitators.

Acts 6:1-6Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven people of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They had these seven stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem.

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Exodus 18 (Message)Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law to Moses, heard the report of all that God had done for Moses and Israel his people, the news that GOD had delivered Israel from Egypt. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses his sons and his wife there in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God. Moses told his father-in-law the story of all that GOD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt in helping Israel, all the trouble they had experienced on the journey, and how GOD had delivered them. Jethro was delighted in all the good that GOD had done for Israel in delivering them from Egyptian oppression.

13–14 The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What’s going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?”

15–16 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me with questions about God. When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbour and teach them God’s laws and instructions.”

17–23 Moses’ father-in-law said, “This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can’t do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent people— those who fear God, people of integrity, people who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They’ll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they’ll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also.”

24–27 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. Moses picked competent people from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges.

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