Yesterday we looked at a question generated in a Prayer group I am in, "Why am I here?" While it may seem that Christians would have the answer (and we do) there is still a sense in which it is all wrapped up in mystery.There is still plenty of room to wrestle with related questions. How should I spend my time? What activities need to be pursued. What is the criteria for determining things. Are Christians more spiritual than other people?
Although it may sound like a copout, in reality the answer begins with the admission, "It depends on what you mean..." Too often we are not clear on the definitions of the words we use. In particular, the word 'spiritual' is very open to a wide range of meanings.
Rather than blather on and on, I want to look at my reading yesterday in Exodus 18. The setting is a short time after the escape from Egypt. Israel has already begun its never-ending cycle of "murmuring" against God and Moses with God's response (manna, water) and threats. Suddenly we hear that Moses' father-in-law, Jethro (a name forever besmirched by the Beverly Hillbillies) heard everything that God had done. That verb, "heard," is very important. The Exodus Story is about God making His Name known. The reason given for much of what takes place is, over and again, 'so that they will know I am God.' This is confirmed a bit later in v11 when Jethro, praising God, says "I know that YHWH is bigger than all the gods..." [For me, the need to make known God's Name and glory is sound reason to question the belief that God conrols every detail of life. I think the narrative pushes in another direction.]
Chapter 18 continues that once Jethro has heard about the strange goings-on he packed up Zipporah (Moses' wife) and her two kids. I read Richard Friedman's Commentary on The Torah and his note is fascinating. He reflects on the limited information about Moses' reunion with his family. It says Jethro comes to Moses and says I have brought your wife and sons, and Moses "bowed, and he kissed him, and they asked each other how they were..." Why is there no mention of his interaction with his wife and children?
Instead, we hear that Jethro is taken aback that Moses spends all day dealing with the people. Jethro's advice, subdivide into tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands with a chief over each level will keep him from being worn out. Friedman then notes that the two phrases "to be by oneself" and "to be able" appear twice here but also in Genesis 32:24ff in the story of Jacob wrestling God. He sees parallels in our relationship with God and our relationship with one another, and sees, ironically, that we seem to fair better with our struggles with God!
The issue of Moses being overworked and overwhelmed comes up again in different versions later. I am not interested in that. What I am interested in is that it came up at all. For all the sublime content we find in Exodus, it is stunning that the main point of most of this chapter is burnout and delegating responsibility. On a personal note, the text was especially relevant as I have struggled recently with delegation and burnout. No magical smooth sailing for those in relation with God. We still need management skills, insight and the willingness to put in long hours. We also have to work smarter, not just harder. The daily stuff of living together in community makes up a huge percentage of our daily load. And family relationships can remain private and personal. However important they are, they need not be included in the Word.
Reading the Bible, slowly and regularly, reveals all manner of interesting things. Why am I here? In part to work with other folks, and to do it efficiently and effectively!
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