Exo 18:1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
In Numbers 10:29, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law was called Reuel.
Jethro may have heard of the miracle plagues against the gods of Egypt, the Red Sea crossing, the Manna from heaven and the water from the rock.
Exo 18:2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home,
Exo 18:3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"),
Exo 18:6 And when he sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,"
A wife is a companion and help mate to her husband. His two sons received his love and were a blessing. My own son is about to move to Texas and I will miss him. family is important.
Exo 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent.
Exo 18:8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.
Jethro would hear first hand of all that God had done for his people. We should testify of all that God has done for us. Give glory to God.
Exo 18:9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
Exo 18:10 Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
Exo 18:11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people."
He told the truth of what happened. The world hides the things of God, or tries to change what happened. but we are to make them known.
Exo 18:12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.
Exo 18:13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.
Jethro a priest of Midian offered a sacrifice to the God of Abraham.
Exo 18:14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?"
Exo 18:15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God;
Exo 18:16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws."
There were over six hundred fifty thousand men on their journey. Moses was being their judge and counselor. All this responsability could surely wear him out. The devil wants to wear out the people of God. (Dan 7:25)
Exo 18:17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.
Exo 18:18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.
Exo 18:19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God,
Exo 18:20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.
Exo 18:21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Exo 18:22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
Jethro shows Moses how to delegate authority, appointing godly men to help with judging and advising the people. Spiritual leaders need spiritual men to help with the things of God; the gifts of God. Jesus would appoint 12 men as apostles to do the work of ministry. The apostles appointed deacons to serve so that they could serve in the areas most needed.
Exo 18:23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."
Exo 18:24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
Exo 18:25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Exo 18:26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.
Exo 18:27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.
Exodus 19
Exodus 16
Exodus 1 Table of Contents
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