Bibledoorajar: Good Decision or No?

     A sister in the Lord tells the story of the time her father planted a strawberry patch as a means to make money. At the end of the season and the profit versus the work was tallied, her father commented on the situation to a fellow farmer. The fellow listened and then said, "well, Jesse, you will just have to make your own "incision" about that." And that is where I am with the next part of the story of Moses. He was definitely called to not only be a deliverer but also a lawgiver and mediator. When Jethro, his father-in-law showed up, Moses greeted him magnanimously. Jethro had heard of all the wonderful things that God had done for His people and how He had used Moses mightily. He exalted God as the One True God. Looks to some like he became a "believer" at that point even to the point of sacrificing with Moses. and thus he had the privilege as a Midianite of giving Moses counsel on how to problem solve the disputes of the people. Others say no, that the people should have been allowed direct access to Moses himself and that God did not intend a system of judges as a layer between the Lawgiver and Himself.  Or, Moses should have gotten his advice from Aaron rather than a Midianite.
      Today, Christians have access to our Lawgiver and Mediator directly through prayer and supplication, but we are also called to receive help from each other and many are said by the apostle Paul to have the gift of helps (I Cor. 12) . Scholars define this gift as giving relief, succor and support.  The appellation of "father-in-law" in reference to Jethro is mentioned 13 times in the story. Hmn. Good or bad? Clearly it is a reference to an earthly status (some even say evil 13). At any rate, it does reflect that God will be involved to bring about His desires as men try to problem solve how to best handle earthly situations . It might have been a mistake to go with Jethro's solution, but God is ever able to bring about His desired outcome. So on this one, think and pray and reach your own "incision". God bless your thoughts.