"Sometime before the Israelites escaped from Egypt, Moses sent his wife and sons back to Jethro (Moses' father-in-law). After the great escape, Jethro comes to visit Moses at the mountain of God, or Mt. Sinai. Moses' wife and sons come to visit him also. Moses tells Jethro how the Israelites were rescued from Egyptian slavery. Jethro's faith in God is strengthened. Moses has become the "judge" of Israel and whenever there is a dispute, it comes to him, and he makes a decision between one man and another. Moses is teaching the Israelites God's statutes and laws. Jethro tells Moses that he will wear himself out if he tries to judge every case himself. So, he advises Moses to establish a basic judicial system; one in which Moses appoints trustworthy, God-fearing men to settle minor disputes. Only major disputes should be brought before Moses. Moses listens to his father-in-law's advice, and he establishes officials over the people. Afterward, Jethro travels back to Midian."
Exodus 18 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Now Jethro (Reuel), 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. 2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away [from Egypt], 3 along with her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom (stranger), for Moses said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.” 4 The other [son] was named Eliezer (my God is help), for Moses said, “The God of my father was my help, and He rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Then Jethro, his father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to [join] Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God [that is, Mt. Sinai in Horeb]. 6 He sent a message to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons [who are] with her.” 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down [in respect] and kissed him. They asked each other about their well-being and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and about all the hardship that had happened during the journey, and how the Lord had rescued them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done to Israel, in that He had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is [a]greater than all gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently toward Israel [and the Lord showed Himself infinitely superior to all their gods].” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and [other] sacrifices [to offer] to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
Counsel of Jethro https://www.goodsalt.com/details/prcas1797.html
- FAMILY REUNION. Murmuring after murmurings, and miracle after miracles from God, Moses needed a break somehow. This chapter is about a warm family reunion of Moses, to his wife and children (Zipporah, Gershom, Eliezer), with a focus on his father in-law Jethro (Reuel), the priest of Midian and a man of God, too. Moses, must have felt excited to see his family upon receiving the message. Moses welcomed Jethro with respect and love. Moses recounted everything that happened to his father in-law, how God rescued and freed them from Egypt. Moses glorified God by giving his personal testimony to Jethro. In return, Jethro was glad and he rejoiced with Moses, praising God for all that He has done for Israel. It strengthened Jethro's faith, and he was convinced that the Lord is the greatest than all the gods. As a sign of worship and thanksgiving to the Lord, Jethro took a burnt offering and sacrifice for God.
13 Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God. 16 When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [b]me; [c]I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him. 20 You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens [from the highest to the lowest judicial levels]. 26 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but every minor dispute they judged and decided themselves. 27 Then Moses [d]said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own land (Midian).
- ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. Oh, so God had a great purpose on Jethro's visit and family reunion to Moses! We learned that Moses, as the leader, also acted as a Judge to all the people. But, there were millions of Israelites, and for sure a thousand of disputes happen everyday. Obviously, it was not wise for Moses to talk to each one of them, the whole day, and Jethro, as a long-time priest of Midian offered a very useful counsel to Moses. Jethro did not hesitate to offer a great solution to Moses, and Moses willingly listened to him. God could directly command Moses what to do, but most of the time, God uses other people (godly people) to speak instruction and correction to us. We must listen and take it, especially if we discern God's spirit at work. All in all, what Jethro taught Moses was a good system to apply in terms of educating the people, and maintaining peace and order. Moses will train and develop other leaders who will help him.
- JESUS CHOSE 12 DISCIPLES. Out of hundreds of followers, Jesus filtered and chose 12 disciples and apostles who He can train and teach, so that the Gospel/Good News shall be preached, unto the ends of the world. The church, as a community, also needs a system, and a structure for it to be of great help and blessing to many people. One Pastor cannot talk and respond to everyone's question, that's why we have 'leaders' whom we can talk and have a small group fellowship with.
- ONE CANNOT DO IT ALONE. This is a powerful lesson. As much as we cannot do it alone apart from God, we are nothing apart from Him-- we also need others as we journey in this temporal life, to the next one, eternal life. It's hard to keep staying in the truth, in the faith, when we don't have a community of fellow believers who can help us, pray with us, and encourage us. Still, though we need a spiritual family-- we depend and rely on God alone.
Footnotes: Exodus 18:19 Lit my voice.
Exodus 18:19 Instead of speaking directly to Moses, God used Jethro. Jethro’s willingness to speak and Moses’ willingness to listen reflects beautifully on the spiritual and emotional maturity of both men and the value of such a relationship.
Exodus 18:27 Lit sent off his father-in-law.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
a. Moses sat to judge the people: Among such a large group there would naturally be many disputes and questions of interpretation to settle. Apparently Moses was virtually the only recognized judge in the nation, and the job of hearing each case occupied Moses from morning until evening. Jethro noted this and asked Moses about it.
b. And I make known the statutes of God and His laws: Because Moses knew God and His Word, he was able to fairly settle disputes among the children of Israel. Yet taking all this responsibility by himself was a massive burden.
a. The thing that you do is not good: It wasn’t that Moses was unfit to hear their disputes; it wasn’t that he didn’t care about their disputes; it wasn’t that the job was beneath him, and it wasn’t that the people didn’t want Moses to hear their disputes. The problem was simply that the job was too big for Moses to do. His energies were spent unwisely, and justice was delayed for many in Israel.
i. Moses needed to delegate, even as in Acts 6:2-4 when the apostles insisted they needed to delegate so they would not leave the word of God and serve tables.
b. This thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself: Much to Moses’ credit, he was teachable; when Jethro said the thing that you do is not good, Moses listened to Jethro. Moses knew how to not bow to the complaints of the children of Israel (Exodus 17:3), but also knew how to hear godly counsel from a man like Jethro.
b. Teach them the statutes and the laws: For Moses to effectively lead and delegate, he had to teach the Word of God not only to those who would hear the disputes, but also those who might dispute.
i. If the people knew God’s word for themselves, many disputes could be settled immediately. Also, if the people knew God’s word for themselves, they would not be discouraged if they could not bring their case to Moses himself – they could know one of Moses’ delegates was able give them counsel from God’s wisdom.
ii. There is a clear analogy between the leadership of Moses for Israel and the leadership of a pastor among God’s people. The analogy does not fit at every point, but in many aspects.
· God was recognized as the true leader of the people.
· The leader could not do the work of leadership alone.
· The leader had a special responsibility for prayer and teaching.
· The leader must select, train, and give authority to others to help in the work.
· The people had a definite role in all this (Deuteronomy 1:13)
iii. “The Christian pastor is in some respects comparable to Moses, for he is set apart as a leader in the band of brethren; and as such his business is not only to teach the people but to plead for them with God.” (Spurgeon)
a. Select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth: This was the next step in effective delegation for Moses. Delegation fails if the job is not put into the hands of able, godly men. Only particular men were fit for this job:
· Men of ability: able men
· Men of godliness: such as fear God
· Men of God’s Word: men of truth
· Men of honor: hating covetousness
b. You will be able to endure: This was the first reward for effective delegation. Moses would enjoy life more and be able to do his job better than ever, avoiding the exhaustion of having to settle every dispute.
c. And all this people will also go to their place in peace: The second reward was that the people would be effectively served. It is said that justice delayed is justice denied, and disputes in Israel could be both prevented or settled by the parties themselves (by the teaching of God’s law), or settled by the leaders appointed by Moses.
i. This method also had the advantage of settling problems quickly because people didn’t need to wait in line for Moses. “The longer a controversy lasts, the worse the tangle becomes, the more hot words are spoken, the more bystanders become involved.” (Meyer) Jesus said we should agree with our adversary quickly (Matthew 5:25).
b. Rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: In Moses’ method of administration, some had a higher position than others. Yet God honored the faithful service of the rulers of tens as much as the service of the rulers of thousands.
i. This was good for Moses. He could focus on the most important things and not be overwhelmed and overstressed by many smaller tasks.
ii. This was good for the leaders Moses chose. Capable men were given real responsibility and had the opportunity to serve God’s people in meaningful ways and further God’s work.
iii. This was good for the congregation. Prayed for and taught by Moses, they were able to settle more things themselves. When they did need a dispute settled, they received quicker attention and better attention from the delegated leaders than from Moses himself.
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-18.cfm ©2013 David Guzik
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