Exodus 18
Exodus 18 describes how Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, visits Moses, and how Jethro watches as Moses judges the people, offering advice in the process. This chapter is set in the period just before the Israelites arrive at Sinai, showing how a new life together as a community in the wilderness develops an orderly structure.
1verseNow 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.
2verseJethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,
3verseand her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”.
4verseThe name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”
5verseJethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.
6verseHe said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.”
7verseMoses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.
8verseMoses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
9verseJethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10verseJethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11verseNow I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”
12verseJethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13verseOn the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.
14verseWhen Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”
15verseMoses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
16verseWhen they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”
17verseMoses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.
18verseYou will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.
19verseListen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.
20verseYou shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21verseMoreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
22verseLet them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.
23verseIf you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”
24verseSo Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
25verseMoses 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.
26verseThey judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27verseMoses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
Jethro’s Visit and Praise
Jethro comes to find Moses with his daughter, Zipporah, and their grandchildren. Moses honors his father-in-law and receives him, and he tells Jethro everything about how God delivered Israel from the hardships of Egypt and the wilderness. In response, Jethro praises God and offers burnt offerings and sacrifices to God. This scene shows a foreigner acknowledging the greatness of the LORD and answering it with gratitude and worship
Jethro’s Advice: Introducing a Judicial System
Jethro observes that Moses is trying to judge all the people’s disputes by himself and warns that this burden is too heavy. He advises Moses to appoint capable, God-fearing, trustworthy leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Through this advice, leadership becomes shared, and the community is served more effectively.
Changes in Israel’s Leadership Structure
Following Jethro’s suggestion, Moses establishes a system of judging: minor matters are handled by leaders in each rank, and only difficult cases are resolved by himself. This introduces responsibility and trust, as well as decentralized order within the Israelite community. Jethro positively evaluates Moses’ actions and Israel’s response, and then he returns to his homeland.
Reflection Points
- When you try to handle life’s problems and tasks all by yourself, you can reflect on how important it is to seek advice and cooperate with others.
- As you live a life where you serve someone after becoming a leader, meditate on the wisdom of acknowledging your limitations and sharing the work.
Personal Application
- Reflect on whether you are not carrying all the work by yourself in your life or in your community.
- Think specifically about which areas you could request help in or share roles wisely, and put it into practice.
