Knowing how much you can handle.

Exodus 17:11-12 As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. ¹² Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.

Exodus 18:17-23 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. ¹⁸ “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. ¹⁹ Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you.  Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.

Observation: There are two passages here but the same principal is applied. Moses was trying to do too much by himself and he needed help. If he had not had help keeping his staff above his head his people would have lost the battle. If he had not take Jethro’s advice he would have killed himself trying to solve everyone’s problems. The point was that he was a strong leader but he had to know when he couldn’t handle something without the help from those around him.

Application: Do you ever have a problem asking for help or assistance from others? Or do you look at that as a weakness? Moses could have had an ego trip and said he was going to do it all himself OR he could receive what God wanted to give him…someone who could come along side him. It’s time to stop trying to save the world all by yourself. It’s time to start knowing our own limitations and then finding someone around us who has a strength we don’t have and utilizing them. Maybe it’s your spouse, a co-worker, a friend, or even your children. God has put people around you to lift you up, but we need to be willing to receive it.

Prayer: God, you know there are times when I want to do it all myself because either my pride or ego are holding me back from asking for help. Give me an open heart and open arms to use the people you have placed in my life to make me strong and better.