Exodus 17 - 18

It is in these two chapters that we learn a great deal about priesthood leadership and organization. As the children of Israel are camped at the mount of God, Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, brings Zipporah and Moses's sons to the camp to visit with Moses. It was on this occasion that Jethro observes -

"...that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening." (Old Testament Exodus 18:13)

As Jethro sees this he approaches Moses asking -

"...What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?" (Old Testament Exodus 18:14)

To which Moses responds -

"...Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws." (Old Testament Exodus 18:15 - 16)

Probably shaking his head, Jethro tells Moses -

"...The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone." (Old Testament Exodus 18:17 - 18)

And then Jethro provides this wise counsel -

"Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee." (Old Testament Exodus 18:19 - 22)

But Jethro provides even wiser counsel when he followed -

"...If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure..." (Old Testament Exodus 18:23)

No matter what we do, we should do the will of the Lord -

"...So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves." (Old Testament Exodus 18:24 - 26)

This how the Church and the priesthood works. Ruler of thousands would be compared to stake presidents and rulers of hundreds to bishops of wards. I think we learn a great deal here about Moses's character and humility. This could have been a major pride or ego issue for a man that just lead 600,000 out of Egypt. But Moses does not appear in the least to be caught up to himself. But even as reponsibilities are delagated to priesthood rulers, the also need counselors or assistants to fufill their duties. As Moses commanded Joshua to lead the people against Amalek -

"...Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill." (Old Testament Exodus 17:10)

And -

"...when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed." (Old Testament Exodus 17:11)

For anyone to hold up their hands for an extended period can be very difficult and -

"...Moses' hands were heavy..." (Old Testament Exodus 17:12)

But not necessarily with help with priesthood counselors or assistants for with the help of Aaron and Hur -

"...they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." (Old Testament Exodus 17:12)

I think this can be a great lesson to those who are called as counselors and assitants.