Bibledoorajar: Location, Location, Location

     When Moses and Jethro had their famous conversation about how to handle the people's difficulties, it is important to note where it took place. Jethro found Moses at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Sinai was God's covenant mountain. It was where His authority dwelt. The story does not say that Moses told Jethro that they should appeal the matter before them to God, since after all they were sitting right there at the foot of His mountain. Nor, when their conversation was over, does the Bible say Jethro recognized enough of the importance of Mt. Sinai that he was willing to leave his people and go on with Moses and the others to the Promised Land. He went home to his own people. Perhaps he liked making his suggestions to Moses as to how to lead, but he did not want to be involved in the service of making it come about. We all know how easily it is to tell another how to lead.  However, we often leave out the more difficult service part of leading others. Perhaps Jethro had no interest in serving or honoring the God of the Mountain. At any rate, He went home.

     It is interesting to note that when the disciples of Jesus were still trying to figure out everything, that is, how they should serve and lead like Jesus, that He sent them to a mountain (Matthew 28). He was there on that covenant mountain and when they saw Him the majority worshiped Him although some doubted. It was on that mountain that Jesus told them that He had all authority in heaven and earth. They were to go about their serving and potentially leading because of that very fact. Jesus had all authority. If He was honored and worshiped, He would see that their service and leadership would bring people into the Kingdom. Mountains, heaven and earth. Ultimate authority. A call to resist going back to our own people and to keep on serving Jesus. Matthew does not say what happened to the ones who doubted. Maybe they went home back to their own people.