004. Jethro Advises Son-in-law Moses to Name Shepherding Elders

Moses

(Sit where all can see)
The people of Israel have escaped from slavery in Egypt;
we are now wandering in a desert.
I cannot keep order; too many people clamor for justice.

Goat Herder

They’re running around stealing and fighting, Moses.
Do something about it!

Prompter & Echoes

Moses! Help me, Moses!

Bride

(Shout at Moses) Moses, my father-in-law promised five camels
for me to marry his son, but one of the camels was lame, Moses!

Griper

(Point at Bride) Yeah, I gave your dad a lame camel for the girl,
because he didn’t tell me his daughter was lame in the head!

Bride

I am not! You’re too stupid to understand plain Hebrew!

Griper

(Shout angrily) Moses, my neighbor’s goat ate all my lettuce!

Goat Herder

Yeah, but you didn’t have to eat my goat!
It was a good Jewish goat!

Prompter & Echoes

They keep crying for justice!

Moses

Oh, here comes my wise old father-in-law Jethro.

Jethro

(Approach bent, using a walking stick. Shout angrily)
Let Moses alone!
(Wave your stick at Griper.)

Prompter & Echoes

Look out!

Jethro

Moses, you are an idiot!
You let them drive you crazy, yelling at you all at once.

Moses

So what can I do, Jethro?

Jethro

Delegate your authority to leaders of 10s, 50s, 100s and 1000s.
Let them handle the easy stuff and bring you the hard stuff.

Moses

  (Stand) Jethro’s advice solves my problem.
It lets all of God’s people receive attention and good shepherding.
God then gives the Ten Commandments to guide these new elders.
Now they are all mentoring new leaders.

Prompter & Echoes

Praise the God of Abraham!