Moses father-in-law Jethro comes to visit, bringing Moses’s wife Zipporah, she who saved Moses’ life in his struggle with God en route to Egypt.

Jethro sees the lineup of people waiting to hear God’s judgment, via Moses, and suggests that Moses start delegating, using a structure based on tens of people, twenties, then fifties and 100s – remarkably like that of the later Roman armies that would come to rule them.

Moses takes the advice and things start going better for him. I would have liked to have known more about Jethro’s family. He sounds like a wise man and without the wisdom of his daughter Zipporah, Moses would not have been around to star in the bible in the first place! An intriguing character.

Jethro leaves, and Moses is given the Ten Commandments, which for the record are:

1/ I am the Lord your God. Worship no god but me.

2/ Do not bow down to false idols.

3/ Do not use my name for evil purpose.

4/ Remember the Sabbath. Keep it holy.

5/ Respect your father and mother and you will live long.

6/ Do not commit murder

7/ Do not commit adultery.

8/ Do not steal.

9/ Do not accuse anyone falsely.

10/ Do not covet your neighbours’ house, wife, cattles, donkeys or anything else he owns.

The Lord says if you obey him, he will show his love to thousands of generations.

Dear God,

Thank you for showing your love to me, and my children. Thank you for blessing us. Please help us to obey you and follow your paths. In Jesus name. Amen.