Hello and welcome to today’s exciting Bible study on Exodus 18. In this chapter, we will discuss Jethro’s (Moses’s father-in-law) advice to Moses. According to biblical scholars, the events of Exodus 18 occurred around 1446 B.C.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 18 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Exodus 18. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Exodus 17, we read and learned about God providing water from a rock for the Israelites and their victory over the Amalekites. Today, in Exodus 18, we will learn about Jethro’s advice to Moses.
Backstory on Exodus 17
In Exodus 17, the people complained to Moses and Aaron about having no water to drink and Moses sought the Lord. The Lord told Moses to take his rod and strike the rock that He showed him. Water sprang forth from the rock and the people drank it and their thirst was satisfied. Later, the Amalekites came to battle with the Israelites in the wilderness of Rephidim and Joshua and his men went to war with them. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill and Moses held his hands up. As long as Moses held his hands up, Israel was winning, when he let his hands down, the Amalekites were winning. Therefore, Hur and Aaron put a stone as a seat for Moses to sit holding each of his hands until Israel won.
Moses then built an altar and called the Lord YHWH Nissi – The-Lord-is-my-banner because the Lord had sworn to erase the memory of the Amalekites and to have war with them from generation to generation.
Now, without any further delay, let us study together and learn what is Exodus 18 about, shall we?
Exodus 18 Summary
Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, heard about God’s miracles in freeing the Israelites from Egypt. He brought Moses’s wife, Zipporah, and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to meet Moses in the wilderness. Moses welcomed Jethro, and they exchanged greetings before Moses shared the story of the Lord’s deliverance of the Israelites. Jethro rejoiced and acknowledged the greatness of the Lord, recognizing His power over other gods. He then offered sacrifices to God, and Aaron and the elders of Israel joined them for a meal before God.
Moses was tirelessly judging the people from morning until evening when his father-in-law observed his overwhelming burden. He questioned why Moses handled all the inquiries alone and advised him that this was not sustainable. Moses explained that the people came to him for guidance and judgment on their difficulties. His father-in-law counselled him to stand before God for the people and to teach them God’s statutes while delegating authority to capable, righteous, God-fearing men who would serve as leaders and judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens of people.
In this way, only the more difficult cases would come to Moses, making the burden lighter for him and ensuring that the people could find resolution more easily. Moses followed his father-in-law’s advice, appointing leaders and organizing the community for a more efficient system of judgment. After implementing these changes, he let his father-in-law return to his land.
Exodus 18 Commentary
1. Exodus 18:10-12
Jethro, a Midianite priest, came to meet Moses, bringing his daughter Zipporah and his grandsons with him. Moses was married to Zipporah and had two children with her. Jethro was filled with joy at what God had done for the Israelites and honored God with sacrifices, proclaiming that the Lord God of the Israelites was the true God above all others. Jethro, being a Midianite priest, acknowledged the Lord as Supreme. He also offered burnt offerings to the Lord.
Interestingly, Jethro is also known by another name, Reuel (Exodus 2:18), which means “Friend of God.” The name Jethro means “abundance” or “excellence” in Hebrew.
Jethro’s recognition of God as Supreme was particularly significant, as the Midianites practiced polytheism, worshiping multiple gods, deities, and spirits. They even had their own version of Yahweh.
2. Exodus 18:17-23
Jethro had Moses’s well-being in mind. He offered him wise counsel. Judging Israel was a significant responsibility, and it was noteworthy that a Midianite like Jethro would advise an Israelite like Moses on how to carry out this task. These verses teach us that God can use anyone, regardless of their background. It almost seemed like the very purpose for which Jethro came to meet Moses was to offer him wise counsel concerning judging Israel.
Exodus 18 Lessons
What can we learn from Exodus 18?
1. God can use anyone He chooses
God used Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro, to advise Moses on how to judge the people of Israel. Jethro was a Midianite man and also a Midianite priest. However, he humbled himself before God, acknowledged the good things God had done for Israel, and proclaimed Him as the one true God above all other gods. And God used him. God can use anyone He chooses to accomplish His will on the earth. He didn’t use one of the Israelite elders, you see. Nor did it occur to Moses to set judges over the people. But, He used the Midianite priest. We cannot expect God to solve our problems in the way we want. His ways are superior.
2. The importance of divine wisdom in problem-solving
The divine wisdom of God helped solve Moses’s heavy-duty task of judging all the people of Israel and teaching them the laws of God. If Moses had been the only one managing the issues of the Israelites, he would have worn himself out day after day for 40 years. However, God’s wisdom and guidance, as provided through Jethro, addressed this challenge. Jethro recognized the potential burden that Moses, as the leader of the entire congregation, would face if he continued to handle everything on his own. If he exhausted himself, he would be unable to fulfill all that God asked of him.
This situation underscores the importance of delegating tasks and heeding divine wisdom. Each member of the church has a specific role to play. A pastor fulfills his role, a teacher educates, a prophet does his role, and those in administration support the work, each contributing in their respective ways to the kingdom. It is important to recognize the difference between earthly wisdom and divine wisdom, and we need discernment to make that distinction. The best way to determine whether counsel from someone is from God is to bring it to God in prayer. Moses recognized Jethro’s advice as divine wisdom and heeded the advice.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study on Exodus 18. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 18. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!