We will begin this lesson in Exodus 18:1 “When Jethro, the priest
of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for
Moses, and for Israel his people, [and] that the LORD had brought
Israel out of Egypt;” Exodus 18:2 “Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law,
took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,” Exodus 18:3
“And her two sons; of which the name of the one [was] Gershom; for he
said, I have been an alien in a strange land:”
We discovered in an earlier lesson that Jethro was truly the name
of Zipporah’s father. We discovered that the name Reuel was a title,
not a name. “Gershom” means refugee, or sojourner. It seems that, Moses
left his family with his wife’s father, when he went back into Egypt to
deliver the people. Sometimes, it is necessary to leave family behind,
when a dangerous mission is about to be undertaken. This certainly was
the case here. Moses had left his wife and two young sons with Jethro.
The news of the Red Sea parting surely had spread. Jethro, just
like so many of the other surrounding people, had heard and suddenly
realized that the Lord God is the true God. Jethro, just like so many
other people of this area, believed in many gods. These miracles just
make it very clear that Moses’ God is the real God. It was no secret
that the God of Moses had fought the battle for His people. That God,
Himself, had brought the people out with His mighty hand.
Exodus 18:4 “And the name of the other [was] Eliezer; for the God
of my father, [said he, was] mine help, and delivered me from the
sword of Pharaoh:”
This was the young son that Zipporah had circumised. “Eliezer”
means God of help.
Exodus 18:5 “And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons
and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the
mount of God:”
This mount, where Moses was encamped, was Sinai. God had led them
with the pillar of fire and smoke to this very spot. Moses had set up
camp, and Jethro, Moses’ wife, and his two sons had met him. There
would have been no trouble finding him, for three million people
moving through this land would be hard to hide.
Exodus 18:6 “And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am
come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.” Exodus 18:7
“And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and
kissed him; and they asked each other of [their] welfare; and they
came into the tent.”
This sort of greeting was not unusual. Moses (in respect for his
father-in-law, his wife, and his children) went out to greet them, when
he heard they were near to camp. Moses had not seen his family in
quite some time, and you know that he was excited to be able to see
them, again. Doing “obeisance” just means that Moses bowed in respect
to his father-in-law. This kiss was not like a woman and man kiss, but
was rather the custom of the land between males who had great respect
for each other. They still kiss on the check over there today in
greeting. They had been very close for the forty years Moses was
living in exile. Jethro was very interested in hearing the details on
how God delivered His people from Egypt. Moses invited Jethro to come
into his quarters, where Moses could privately relate all of this to
him.
Exodus 18:8 “And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD
had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, [and]
all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and [how] the LORD
delivered them.”
This was a detailed account of the whole deliverance from Egypt,
that we have just read about. Jethro had not been a follower of the
Lord in the past (that we know about), but this was convincing
testimony.
Exodus 18:9 “And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the
LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the
Egyptians.”
Jethro not only believed Moses, he was really excited about the
whole thing. The reason Jethro had come to Moses, was because these
wonderful stories had filtered across the desert to him. Now that he
heard from Moses first-hand of God’s exploits, Jethro rejoices greatly,
because the stories were true.
Exodus 18:10 “And Jethro said, Blessed [be] the LORD, who hath
delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of
Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the
Egyptians.”
This was just praise and thanksgiving from Jethro toward the Lord
for saving Moses and the Israelites. In doing this, Jethro was saying,
there was a God above all of these false gods I have been worshipping.
A God of power and might, who can deliver His people.
Exodus 18:11 “Now I know that the LORD [is] greater than all gods:
for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly [he was] above them.”
This was where the scales were removed from his eyes, and he could
clearly see that “The Lord He Is God”. Just like a person who suddenly
realizes and accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour, this was what we were
seeing here. Jethro realized the Lord is God. What a realization!
Exodus 18:12 “And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt
offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of
Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.”
How Jethro knew to do this, we are not told. Perhaps, Moses told
him what would be pleasing to God. This was a public display of his
acceptance of the Lord as the one true God. Public display of belief
is necessary in God’s plan. Any sacrifice is at some cost to the one
doing it. This was Jethro’s way of letting everyone know which side he
was on, and the sacrifice showed God that Jethro had forsaken the old
gods, and accepted the one true God.
Exodus 18:13 “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.”
At Mount Sinai, they settled for about a year. Possibly, they had
already been there for a span of time, before Jethro brought Moses’
family. We see, in this Scripture above, that the children of Israel
came to Moses, when they had a dispute, so that they might hear the mind
of God. Moses, speaking for God, would make decisions between them.
These people were so unlearned in the ways of the Lord, that Moses was
having to decide even the small problems. It seemed that, there were so
many settlements to be made, that the line of people waiting for
counsel extended all day long.
Exodus 18:14 “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?” Exodus 18:15 “And Moses said unto his
father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:”
Exodus 18:16 “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.”
These people were right in coming to Moses. They were fully aware
from the ten plagues, from seeing the Red Sea part, from seeing water
flow from a Rock, and all the other miracles God had brought through
Moses, that God was the answer for everything. They knew if anyone
knew the will of God in their camp, it had to be Moses. Moses has
been said to be the most humble man who ever lived. They knew him, and
knew that his judgements were just. What we see Jethro saying here
was, you need some help. You see, Moses had already had an encounter
with God, and God’s statutes and laws were already written on Moses’
heart. Moses knew the law, because he knew the lawgiver. At this
time, God’s law had never been written. However, men and women of
God knew in their hearts right from wrong, because of their close
association with God.
Exodus 18:17 “And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing
that thou doest [is] not good.” Exodus 18:18 “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.” Exodus 18:19 “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:”
We see, here, that his father-in-law was not just concerned about
Moses’ body, but realized, also, that Moses could keep them in touch
with God, and that Moses needed private time to speak to God for the
people. It is a wise man, or woman, who listens to good counsel. Moses
could pray to God for his people.
Exodus 18:20 “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.”
He was telling Moses to delegate authority on lesser matters, so
that Moses would have the strength to teach them the ways of God. This
is like a church. If the pastor spends all his time cleaning up the
church and doing the chores around the church, he doesn’t have time to
teach the people the way God would have them to live.
Exodus 18:21 “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:” Exodus 18:22 “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.”
He was telling Moses to set up local courts, district courts,
higher courts, and Moses was the supreme court. This was just another
way to delegate authority on minor problems. I like his request to
choose able men that fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. This
would narrow the field down greatly. Only godly men should rule over
others.
Exodus 18:23 “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.”
We see, here, that Jethro did not demand this; he suggested this,
if it was okay with Moses and with God. His was a good suggestion. It
would be easier on Moses and on the people.
Exodus 18:24 “So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in
law, and did all that he had said.”
A great man is one who hears a good suggestion, and heeds it.
Exodus 18:25 “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.”
We see a form of government set up right here. It was very similar
to the form of government we have in the U.S. today.
Exodus 18:26 “And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard
causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged
themselves.”
We see that God had Moses to accept this system, because it would
work.
Exodus 18:27 “And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went
his way into his own land.”
We see that Jethro completed the job, that he was sent to do, and,
now, he could go home. God uses people who are not even His, sometimes,
to carry out a mission for Him. Not only was Moses blessed, but
Jethro came to know the Lord, also. Moses’ family stayed with him,
we can assume, because it said Jethro went home.