The choice of assistants must be preceded by the leader's prayers. This need for helpers must be placed at the feet of the Lord, so that no one is favored for having charm, beauty, or any other physical characteristic. Only God's guidance can lead this choice. We are not always in full communion with the Father to, with just a glance, feel whom He has chosen.

An example of how caution is indispensable in decision-making is the episode in which Samuel had to anoint the new king of Israel. The prophet received the divine order to go to Jesse's house to carry out this mission. When his sons arrived, the priest saw Eliab, the firstborn, and said: “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” (1 Samuel 16.6b). However, God rebuked Samuel at that very moment, saying that He does not see as man sees. Probably, there was something in Eliab that disqualified him for the throne.

Every saved person must be concerned about how to act in the face of opportunities. If you sin and do not repent, you may lose the blessings you would have received: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16.7).

The first requirement to be an assistant to Moses was to have wisdom, because, to lead, it is necessary to know how to manage conflicts. Without this grace, how will the assistant handle it when someone asks them to resolve a conflict? God grants us the following guidance: My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; (Proverbs 23.15). Make the heart of the Most High rejoice with you all the time!

In addition to being wise, our assistants must be intelligent enough to find ways to help those who truly need it. The mission of the shepherd is to take care of the flock, but if those who represent us cannot create situations for the people to improve their lives, we have done nothing in favor of the sheep. The wolves are wicked, and the sheep are simple: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  (Matthew 10.16).

Finally, the collaborators must be tested in their work, as the Word speaks about the Savior: He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; he was despised, and we did not esteem Him (Isaiah 53.3). The Father made the Son face critical moments to set an example of what we can achieve with our future helpers.

The chiefs of the tribes had to choose the best for this noble and important role in the Church. Then, they would present them to Moses, who would accept them or not. As long as the team of workers is composed of immature people in faith, the Church will not take its place in society. It is essential to know how to choose in order to grow!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares