What Matters Remained With Moses?
When Jethro advised Moses to appoint capable men as leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, the goal was not to remove Moses from leadership but to relieve his burden so he could focus on the most significant responsibilities. Following this new structure, Scripture explains that only certain matters were to remain with Moses, while the rest were handled by subordinate leaders.
1. The Difficult Cases
The primary matters that remained with Moses were the hard, complicated, or contentious cases—the issues that lower-level leaders could not resolve. These were situations requiring deeper spiritual insight, discernment, and understanding of God’s will.
These cases would include:
-
Disputes with no clear human solution
-
Conflicts that involved complex motives or serious consequences
-
Legal or moral questions for which no precedent yet existed
-
Matters requiring God’s direct instruction
Moses acted almost like a supreme judge, handling what others considered too weighty.
2. Matters Requiring Direct Revelation from God
Because Moses was uniquely chosen as the one through whom God spoke, any matter that required divine instruction remained with him. Lower leaders could interpret known laws, but only Moses could receive new commands or clarifications directly from the Lord.
This included:
-
New laws and commandments
-
Clarification on unclear situations
-
Guidance for national direction
-
Decisions involving the covenant relationship
Whenever a judgment required God’s voice, Moses alone could handle it.
3. Issues Affecting the Entire Nation
Another category that stayed with Moses were matters of national importance—issues that impacted Israel collectively rather than individuals or small groups.
Examples include:
-
National crises
-
Complaints that threatened unity
-
Leadership disputes
-
Widespread disobedience or rebellion
These issues required a leader who carried both authority and divine guidance.
4. Responsibilities of Spiritual Instruction
Although other leaders could judge smaller matters, Moses retained the responsibility of teaching the people God’s statutes and laws. This was foundational to Israel’s identity.
He was responsible for:
-
Receiving God’s law
-
Explaining the law to the people
-
Ensuring correct interpretation
-
Guarding the purity of God’s commands
This made Moses not only a judge but also Israel’s chief teacher and spiritual guide.
5. Oversight of the Entire Leadership Structure
Even after delegating authority, Moses remained the head of the leadership hierarchy. The appointed leaders handled daily cases, but they operated under his overarching direction.
His oversight included:
-
Ensuring leaders judged fairly
-
Correcting or replacing leaders when necessary
-
Guiding the overall system of justice
This preserved unity and prevented corruption.
Conclusion
The matters that remained with Moses were the most demanding, spiritually significant, and nationally impactful responsibilities. While ordinary disputes were delegated, Moses continued to handle:
-
The difficult cases
-
Matters requiring God’s direct revelation
-
National-level decisions
-
Spiritual instruction
-
Oversight of the justice system
This division of labor allowed Israel to function efficiently while preserving Moses’ unique role as God’s appointed leader and mediator.