Sons & Judges

Exodus 18

A few things to consider today.  First, a puzzle presents itself.  It is one I have wondered about for awhile and have come up with no good answers.  Maybe, you see something I don't in the story.  I recall from earlier readings that Moses' wife Zipporah and at least one of their sons (assuming  both) were with Moses as he headed to Egypt to free the people.  But, in this chapter, Jethro brings Zipporah and Moses' sons, Gershom and Eliezer out to meet Moses.  Moses had sent them back to Zipporah's father, Jethro, somewhere in the story - probably right after Moses struggled with the Lord on his way to set the Israelites free. (Chapter 4)  Verse 27 of chapter 18 does say that Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country.  But, it doesn't say anything about what happened to his wife and sons.  I don't recall future readings having much to say about Moses' family, either.  Moses's sons certainly never have any positions of authority.  They are never called to be leaders or judges.  What are we missing in the story that would warrant Aaron's descendents being called rather than Moses'?  I do not understand this picking and choosing among families; last sons chosen over the first, nephews over sons; grandparents raising their grandchildren; a daughter living with her parent rather than her husband.  Sounds a lot like civilization today.

And then there is the judging.  They needed judges because the people didn't always get alone.  Think about this for a minute and you will have a greater understanding of what Israel is and for those of us who live near an Ojibway Reservation maybe can glean a little better understanding of their sovereignty as well. Israel is a natin, a holy nation, a separate people from all other people.  They are the people of God.  But, as the people of God, they are a people who live in this world and need some kind of structure so that everyone in the nation will be treated justly.  There are times when God's people don't always act like one would think God's people should act.  They need a judiciary to help keep the peace.  Moses has been doing the judging.  But, Moses is there spiritual leader and their guide through the wilderness.  He is their chief and simply does not have time to keep the peace between every one who quibbles with their neighbor.  Therefore, he must appoint judges to see that the thousands and thousands of people he is leading don't destroy themselves, don't end up destroying the nation.  As a nation of people there are necessary things that must be done for the people to be able to live together and that requires some type of structure to oversee this. 

We often rebel against the idea that others should decide for us how to get along with out neighbors.  Unfortunately, if left to our own devises, our plans would probably cause more harm to ourselves and our neighbors.  Judges (legal systems) were just as necessary back then as they are now and every people, every nation, has a right to ensure justice by putting into effect a system of doing this according to the customs of their own nation.  It is for our own sake as well as the sake of our neighbors that we have judges.