The Israelites have just finished fighting with the Amalekites and obtained the victory. Moses was holding the rod of God up on a hill overlooking the battle while Joshua and the Israelites were fighting below.

Now we come to a pause about the Israelites themselves and today we are going to be studying more about Moses.

Exodus 18:1-6
1 When Jethro, 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 Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: 4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: 5 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: 6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

• After a few weeks and possibly months of being separated from his family, they are finally reunited again.
• They had initially started out together to go back as a family.
• Exodus 4:18-20
  18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. 19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. 20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
• We don’t read of where they left Moses to go back to Jethro, but he must have thought it too dangerous for them to be with him there in Egypt and so he himself probably sent them back to Midian to wait for him.
• There was no lack in faith thinking that God could not protect them. Sometimes that’s how we classify it though, isn’t it? But we can maybe get to a point where we can be presumptuous.
• Maybe Moses’ heart might not have been fully set on the task at hand if he had to worry also about the safety of his wife and children.
• But either way, they are finally reunited again.

Exodus 18:7
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

Who is Jethro?

• He is the father-in-law to Moses. But what is his background? Where did he come from?
• When Moses killed an Egyptian and had to flee for his life, where did he end up running to?
• Exodus 2:15
  Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
  • Moses fled to Midian. Midian was east of Egypt and south of Canaan.
  • This is where he would meet Zipporah his wife. His wife was a Midianite.
• But who was Jethro?
  • Exodus 3:1
    Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
  • He was the priest of Midian.
• Even though he was not of the chosen people of God, this man and his family was a worshiper of the true God. We see this in his act of offering a burnt offering to God after he heard of how God had worked so miraculously for the Israelites.
• We see clearly that the Israelites were not the only ones blessed with the knowledge of God. That God is working in the hearts of all around the world.
• Moses had plans to lead the children of Israel out from Egypt as a general, and the Israelites as his army, but God had other plans. He led him to this family, not just to hide from Pharaoh but also to be re-trained in his heart and mind, to give him a clearer understanding of His will and to shape his character to be a true leader. This God did by leading him to Jethro and his family.

Let’s continue with the story.

• Exodus 18:13
  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
• Moses at this time was basically a judge, a teacher, a prophet, a leader. He was basically everything to the Israelites. And so, people would come to Moses for help, for instruction, for advice. From morning to evening Moses would be busy leading them, teaching them and instructing them. Even settling little disputes between them.
• We must remember that the Israelites coming out of Egypt were a nation of slaves. There was no order. They didn’t have a system of governing themselves. They did not even have freedom to make their own choice in Egypt. This was a new sense of freedom that they never had before. And they were going through growing pains and focusing on Moses for all the help that he could give them. They weren’t used to making their own decisions.

When Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law saw this, what did he say to Moses?

• Exodus 18:14-18
  14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
• Jethro did not approve at all what Moses was doing.
• Yes, Moses was being busy for a good cause. After all, this is what God had called him to do. To lead the children of Israel.
• It was early on in his “career” of leading the Israelites and so he must have still felt fresh and good. He certainly wasn’t complaining about the responsibility that God and placed on him. But Jethro told him that if he kept doing this it would be too heavy for him and would wear him out. He would be burnt out!
• He was probably already neglecting his family. And was probably rushing his meals and likely didn’t have much time to himself at all.

So what was Jethro’s counsel to Moses?

• Exodus 18:19-23
  19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
• First, he established the role of Moses. What was he to do?
  • He was to be like God to the people. What does that mean?
  • In the New King James it says that he was to stand before God on behalf of the people. And he was to bring the difficulties to God that could not be resolved by man.
  • Moreover, he had to teach the people the ordinances and laws and show them how they ought to walk and the work that they had to do.
  • The ordinances and laws were not just religious laws like the 10 commandments and the feast days and other things pertaining to worship. But there were also civil laws that Moses would give later from God on how a nation would be run.
  • This was primarily his work. At least this is what Jethro suggested. It has a high-level work which would guide the whole nation and exert a strong influence.
• Secondly, he counselled Moses to select people that would be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties and rulers of tens.
  • They were to judge everyone and help settle disputes.
  • It was only when the matter got out of control or too great for them to handle that they were then to bring the case before Moses to judge.
• What Jethro was suggesting was basically a system of governance for a nation.
• Rarely can one person even deal with the problems of 100-200 people. But here was Moses dealing with the issues of probably 1 million people!
• This is what the Bible records of how many people came out of Egypt.
  • Exodus 12:37
    And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
  • That did not even include the women and children! So certainly, there was probably even more than 1 million people that Moses was dealing with.
• There was probably a long queue for Moses every day, people seeking help from the smallest of things to important life issues!
• So, Jethro upon seeing this knew straightaway after one day of observing that it was going to be something that would wear Moses out! It was not something that he could bear alone.

Upon hearing this, how did Moses react?

• Exodus 18:24-27
  24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses 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. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
• He acted upon it straight away.

There are a few important lessons that we learn here from the encounter that Moses had with Jethro.

First, order, governance, organization is very important. This applies not only to a nation but to companies, churches, and small groups.

• In order for the nation of Israel to grow into something bigger and greater, it had to grow beyond Moses. It couldn’t just depend on him.
• Either the work would have burnt him out or even killed him, or he would not have been able to meet the needs of every person effectively.
• And if he didn’t meet the needs of each person, there would have risen a riot, rebellion and a new system of governance that would have usurped his role and authority.
• In the Bible we see one such story. It is David and Absalom. David didn’t rule the kingdom well at one point, but Absalom his son decided to sit at the gate everyday greeting people, helping people with their problems and socializing with everyone.
• 2 Samuel 15:2-6
  2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
• Eventually Absalom would try to take the actual throne from his father and try to kill him.
• So, we certainly see the importance of proper governance and putting leaders in the right place.

This brings us to our next important lesson. Choose your leaders wisely.

• There were prerequisites that Jethro gave to Moses in the choice of what type of leaders he should choose to help him and give them authority to be judges. What are they?
• Exodus 18:21
  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…
  • They had to fear God.
  • They had to be men of truth.
  • They had to hate covetousness.
• To fear God, they regarded the worship and holiness and reverence of God with high regard. They put Him first, last and best in their lives. And they had the honor of God in their heart and mind.
• To be men of truth it would mean that they had to be faithful and trustworthy and honest. A very important characteristic in order to be a judge.
  • We may think that truth there is referring to the Bible but the scriptures had not begun to be written yet.
• Covetousness is related to dishonest gain and desire for money and profit. To be a judge they had to make sure they could not be bought or bribed. Such an important characteristic in the role of a judge even today.
• These were the three prerequisites that Jethro recommended. What a high calling, but what great importance are they in order to be a good, fair and just judge. Moses needed people under him whom he could trust to execute the will of God without watching over them. If he had chosen unwise leaders, it would have made his job even more difficult than it already was.
• So, it is so important to choose God-fearing leaders who are honest and hate covetousness.

The third lesson we can learn from this story is that we don’t need to know all the answers as a leader.

• The recommendation of Jethro to Moses did not diminish his role as the leader of the Israelites in any way. In fact, it enlarged his sphere of influence as he would teach the people the laws and the ordinances and those under him would judge the people.
• Help and counsel came from the most unexpected place. It didn’t even come from his brother Aaron or from someone senior or older in age from within the camp of Israel. It didn’t even come directly from God! God ordained that it would come from his father-in-law who was a Midianite. Yes, he was a priest and a godly man, but not of the same race. Sometimes God works and speaks through other people rather than speaking directly to us. But let us make sure that this person loves God and has the honour of God in his or her heart first!
• And sometimes we need to be humble enough to accept counsel even though God has put you into a high position. He does not put us there simply because we are qualified for the role. Others will come along to help and to guide. There is always room for growth and always the need for humility no matter the position that we are in.

This would be the beginning of Israel being organized into a nation. Learning how to govern themselves and putting people into formal positions to aid in that process.

Today let us strive to be men and women who fear God, who reverence and honour Him with all our hearts. Let us be honest and have integrity in our lives no matter the circumstance. And let us live lives that show we are not focusing all our energies on this world and its treasures, but rather we have our treasures up in heaven.

Who knows when God will come and call us to stand up in a position of high importance for Him? Joseph was catapulted overnight from being a prisoner in the dark and lonely prison cell to prime minister and second in command of the most powerful nation at that time. Let’s rise to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And who knows, God may call us even to be a Moses one day.