In Exodus 17 the people are complaining to Moses because they do not have water. Moses gets exasperated and cries out to God. God has Moses strike a rock at Horeb and water flows out of it.

Then Amalek wages war on the Israelites. God has Moses stand on top of a hill while the war rages on below. Moses carries the staff of God in his hand. As long as his hand is raised the Israelites prevail. Moses brought Aaron and Hur with him. They held Moses’ hands up and the Israelites led by Joshua defeated Amalek.

In Exodus 18 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law comes into the wilderness to meet with Moses. Apparently, Moses had sent his wife and sons to be with Jethro and now Jethro is bringing them to see Moses.

Moses relays to Jethro everything that God has done, delivering them from the Egyptians. Even though Jethro is a priest of Midian he knows the Lord and praises him for what he has done.

The next day Moses sits as judge for the people. They bring every complaint, whether large or small to him. Jethro sees this and confronts Moses. He tells him that he is taking on too heavy a burden and should get help. Moses says that he is the one who gives God’s instructions to the people. Jethro acknowledges that this is what Moses should be doing: representing the people before God and teaching them what God wants them to do, but he counsels Moses to find other God-fearing men to sit as judges for smaller groups of people. They will handle the small cases and bring the important ones to Moses. Moses does as his father-in-law counsels.

Often when we are given a task by God we try to do it alone. Sometimes the tasks are just too much for one person to handle. It is not a sign of failure to ask for help and spread the duties around. A worn-out leader is as worthless as no leader at all. We must use good judgment when we are feeling stretched to the max. It is not necessary to give up altogether, just share the burden.

In Matthew 24 Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple (which happened in 70 A.D.). The disciples ask when this will happen as well as the end of the world. Jesus warns against listening to people who say they have the answer. He tells them that many terrible things will happen: wars, famine apostasy, oppression, lawlessness, etc. The good news of the kingdom of God will also be proclaimed until the end  But only the Father knows the exact time. We must always be ready and working for the kingdom.