Exodus 18

 (1) Who is Jethro?

v.1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law

The last encounter of Moses' father-in-law was from

4:18  So Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Let me go, so that I may return to my relatives in Egypt and see if they are still alive.” Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

In other words, Moses did not tell Jethro why he went back to Egypt. Now, Jethro heard from others "about all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt." v.1b.

He was the priest of Midian, "a priest for the idolatrous Midianites. His later words to Moses seem to suggest that he now feared God (“may God be with you,” v. 19; “select … men who fear God,” v. 21; “God so commands,” v. 23)." (BKC).

His advice to Moses might not come from a believer's perspective, but he told Moses to evaluate his advice to see if God also commanded him this way. 

18:23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”

(2) We did not know how much Moses had told Jethro about God.  From the name of his second son, perhaps Jethro could know something about God.

v.4b Eliezer (for Moses had said, “The God of my father has been my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”).

(3) Moses

Moses now was the leader of 6 million Israelites and people needed to go through him to inquire of God v.15.

18:6 He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons with her.” 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law
(NET) The announcement in verse 6 may have come...by means of a messenger or at the time of arrival...This would suit a meeting between two important men; the status of Moses has changed.

(4) Moses took the advice from Jethro even though Moses had a high status. 

(NET) This chapter makes an excellent message on spiritual leadership of the people of God. Spiritually responsible people are to be selected to help in the work of the ministry (teaching, deciding cases, meeting needs), so that there will be peace, and so that leaders will not be exhausted. Probably capable people are more ready to do that than leaders are ready to relinquish control. But leaders have to be willing to take the risk, to entrust the task to others. Here Moses is the model of humility, receiving correction and counsel from Jethro. And Jethro is the ideal adviser, for he has no intention of remaining there to run the operation.

Reflection: When we are young we may listen to others, but when we get older or become more important are we still willing to listen? Is our pride blind our eyes so much that no one could teach us anything? Jethro might or might not be a believer, but he told Moses to evaluate if God also gave Moses these commands. Do we ever take advice from unbeliever (with proper evaluation)? Or do we screen them all out just because the advice was from unsaved people?

(5) The advice from Jethro was based on the benefit of Moses and of the people.

18:18 You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself.

Reflection: Do we take up more than we should? Do we fail to see our own limit? Is what we do good to those we help? 

Audrey