NOTES for Exo 18:1-27
On the one hand, this is a story that, in legendary form, tells of the beginning of "civilization," of organization within the people who left Egypt for the wilderness with Moses. On the other hand, behind this organization one can see the ambiguity of any mediation between God and people. Moses, as prophet and "spiritual leader" of Israel, is condemned to this mediation, but its burden is unbearable for a human being, because only God Himself can fully bear it. To ease his task, Moses appoints many "leaders" who are ready to share with him responsibility for the people before God. The more people are able to stand before God on their own, the closer His goal becomes: each person's involvement in a relationship of love with the Creator. Later, in a similar episode (Numbers 11), we will see that in the Bible such participation in common responsibility is understood as participation in God's Spirit, in whom this love is brought about...