Around 375 B.C., philosopher Plato wrote Republic which contained a phrase in Latin that translates, “our need will be the real creator.” In 1658, Richard Franck gave the more English-friendly rendering that is with us today: Necessity is the mother of invention. He wasn’t kidding!
On this day in 1877, Chester Greenwood of Maine received a patent, and the product is with us to this day, although made with more synthetic materials. Dealing with the extreme colds of the upper NE, Greenwood created something made of wire, steel, velvet, and beaver fur. His invention? Earmuffs. Necessity was the mother of invention.
Charles Kettering saw a need and acted upon it. Years ago, cars started with a hand crank. Someone went to the front of the car and manually cranked the engine to get it to start. One day in 1908, a man stopped to help a stranded motorist on Belle Isle in Detroit and the crank handle kicked back, striking him in the jaw and breaking it. Later, the man died from his injuries.
Kettering, “the founder of Cadillac Motors said, “The Cadillac car will kill no more men if we can help it.” Charles Kettering developed the electric starter and vehicle manufacturing changed forever.”1 Once again, necessity was the mother of invention.
It doesn’t take a brilliant mind to observe a problem and even less brilliance is required to grumble about it. But, to see a problem and come up with a gadget to solve that problem – now that is creative and amazing.
Sometimes, the necessity doesn’t require the invention of a product. The invention is a concept of another nature. Such is the case in the life of Moses.
Exodus 18:13-18 says, “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.”
Moses had been doing the job of leading the Israelites since Exodus 12 and already, he has a problem that he doesn’t seem to be able to see. His father-in-law, Jethro, sees it clearly. Moses is taking on too much. The workload is going to burn out the people and Moses right along with it.
A problem? Yes. Legitimate observation? Yes. But God has given Jethro a plan to share with Moses. The “invention” is found in the solution. Exodus 18:19-23 gives the rest of the story.
“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.”
Necessity – a great burden of judging the people – was the mother of invention – a multi-judge judicial system wherein the people could bring their problems and get instruction from the Lord. Voila! Problem solved.
In this life, problems abound. Be a problem solver. We may not be able to solve the problems of world hunger, poverty, crime, or politics. We can, though, be problem solvers when it comes to the everyday problems of life. Thankfully, the answers do not lie within us but come from the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
1https://sermons.love/john-bradshaw/15211-john-bradshaw-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention.html
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