Compare Moses way and our way to
'make rulers over you'
Think about this. When we elect a President, there is a swearing in
ceremony. The President (Moses) places his hand on the Bible while the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court (Aaron) administers the Oath of Office. This oath
is administered at noon, the very time the old president is out and the
president-elect becomes President. Power is transferred with the oath of office.
With
reference to, "and I will make then rulers over you." Symbolically, this
hand on the Bible ceremony pictures God making that man ruler. And the oath
makes the newly elected President responsible to God for his conduct when he
says, "So help me God."
More to think about. Moses said we were to elect men who were wise,
understanding and known. When you vote for a Mayor, Councilman, even a
Congressman you might personally know him. But do you really know
most of the candidates for office? And if you don't 'know' that man are
you really qualified to vote for or against him? In an effort to get known,
many candidates exhaust themselves meeting as many people as possible. Some
local candidates will go door to door just to say 'hello'. So, If you are
running for office and want to get votes, get 'known' and hopefully have
a reputation of being wise and understanding.
At That Time
Here, from Deuteronomy 1, are verses 9, 16 and 18;
9 And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I
am not able to bear you myself alone:
16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes]
between your brethren, and judge righteously between [every] man and his
brother, and the stranger [that is] with him.
18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.
A History Lesson
"At that time" referred back to a past event. In these first
chapters of Deuteronomy, (the first part of Moses speech), Moses was giving a
history lesson. "That time" is recorded in Exodus 18:
13-27.
Exodus 18:13-27 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to
judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the
evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he
said, 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?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, 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.
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, 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. 19 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. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee [so], then thou shalt
be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24 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. 27
And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
In Exodus 18-27 Moses mentioned several things including,
Legal terms. Laws, statutes, judgments (judge) and ordinances.
The Appellate Court System. "The hard causes they brought
unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves."
Additional qualifications for office.