God will provide...Just try Him

Exodus 18
17Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Moses is going through his life day by day. He has fallen into a routine of meeting with people in the morning until evening to resolve issues based on God's instructions. This is just as God commanded Moses to do, right? However, just like the frog in the pan of warm water on the stove, he didn't realize things were getting hotter and might eventually boil over. People could grow tired of waiting, they might grumble and complain, they might grow jealous that Moses was the only one God was talking to, the lines were growing longer and longer. Trouble was coming!

Right about then, God has led Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, to come see Moses with Moses' wife and family. Jethro observes the pot that is going to boil over and speaks to Moses. Moses listens (those are a couple of good examples for relationships) and hears Jethro's advice. Everyone's life is better!

God always has a plan. He has people he will send with messages and people he wants to hear and act on those messages and people who need to be helped by those messages...Jethro, Moses, the Israelites. Was Moses worried about judging all day long? I don't know, but whether he asked God for help or God just saw that he needed help before Moses knew he did, God helped. He sent someone to help with a message of how to do it.

We should always remember God is in control and He will help, even when we don't know to ask...and especially when we do ask.  There are days that I go to bed and realize I haven't really remembered to include God. However, I know He was there because of the moments that I thought "Wow! That was really cool!" I certainly didn't plan those moments, God did, because I was so busy with the stuff of this world that I forgot about Him, but He jumped in and helped without being asked. Then there are times I ask for His help (like when a student is especially disruptive and things could go south quickly), and sure enough, I always get it!

Thank you, Father for always being in control. Always watching and listening and responding before we even know to ask! We love you! Thank you for loving us! In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen.