The Book of Exodus

Hebrew Study

Explanation

Word of the exodus spreads, and Jethro, "the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law," hears "of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel." He comes to the wilderness "at the mount of God," bringing Zipporah, whom Moses had sent home, and their two sons. Their names preach Moses' own story. Gershom, "an alien in a strange land," recalled Moses' long exile in Midian; Eliezer, "the God of my father ... was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh," confessed God's rescue. Every time Moses spoke his sons' names, he rehearsed both his wandering and God's deliverance. The family that had been scattered is drawn back together at the very mountain where God had first called Moses at the bush.

Gospel Focus

Even the names of Moses' sons were a testimony. Gershom kept the memory of the years as a stranger; Eliezer, "God is my help," kept the memory of deliverance. God's people have always marked His faithfulness so it would not be forgotten, building memorials, keeping feasts, even naming children after His mercies. It is good to fix the record of what God has done where we will see it daily, for the forgetful heart is a murmuring heart. Notice too that this reunion happens as Moses walks in obedience. The wife and children sent away in the busy days of the conflict are restored to him now. God is faithful to the families of His servants; the man who gives himself to God's work need not fear that God will forget his household. In His time and way, God gathers and blesses the families of those who serve Him.

Hebrew Study

Explanation

Moses welcomes Jethro with honor, "did obeisance, and kissed him," and then tells him "all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh," all the travail of the way, and "how the LORD delivered them." The account of God's goodness moves Jethro deeply: "Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel." He bursts into praise, "Blessed be the LORD," and makes a great confession: "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods." The proud gods of Egypt had been overthrown, and Jethro sees that Israel's God stands above them all. He seals it with worship, taking "a burnt offering and sacrifices for God," and Aaron and the elders come to eat bread with him "before God." A testimony of what God had done became the doorway to a fresh confession and act of worship.

Gospel Focus

See the power of a testimony. Moses simply told what the LORD had done, and it led Jethro to rejoice, to bless God, to confess His supremacy, and to worship. We often underestimate the effect of plainly recounting God's works. We are not asked to argue people into the kingdom but to tell what God has done, and God uses the telling. "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). And notice what Jethro confessed, "the LORD is greater than all gods," for God had proved it by judging the very idols of Egypt in the plagues. The exodus was never only a rescue; it was a revelation of the one true God above every false one. When we tell others how God has delivered us, we are testifying to the same truth, that the LORD alone is God, greater than every rival that men trust. Tell the story of His goodness, and let it lead hearts to the same confession and worship Jethro made.

Hebrew Study

Explanation

The next morning Jethro watches Moses at work and is troubled. Moses "sat to judge the people," and "the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening." Every dispute, great or small, came to him alone. When Jethro asks why he carries it all himself, Moses explains that the people come "to enquire of God," and he judges between them and teaches "the statutes of God, and his laws." It was good work, done with a right heart. But Jethro tells him honestly, "The thing that thou doest is not good." Not that judging was wrong, but that doing it all alone was unsustainable: "Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people ... thou art not able to perform it thyself alone." The load would break the leader and fail the people, who waited all day for justice.

Gospel Focus

Here is a lesson every servant of God needs. Moses was doing a good thing in a way that was "not good." Zeal and sincerity are not enough; a leader can burn himself out and hinder the people by trying to carry what God never meant one person to carry. "Thou wilt surely wear away" is a warning against the pride and the weariness of doing everything alone. Even Moses, the greatest leader in Israel, was "not able to perform it thyself alone." No one is. God builds His work through many members, "the body is not one member, but many" (1 Corinthians 12:14), and the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of thee." It is not humility but a subtle pride that refuses to share the load and trust others with responsibility. Wise servants of God learn to receive counsel, admit their limits, and welcome help, so that they are not worn away and the people are not left waiting. Doing less ourselves, and equipping others to do more, is often the more spiritual path.

Hebrew Study

Explanation

Jethro gives Moses a plan. Moses should remain the people's representative "to God-ward," bringing the great causes to God, and should "teach them ordinances and laws" and show them "the way wherein they must walk." But he should also "provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness," and set them over the people as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. These would "judge the people at all seasons," handling small matters themselves and bringing only the great ones to Moses, "so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee." Jethro is careful to add, "if God command thee so." And Moses, the meekest of men, "hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said," choosing able men and making them heads over the people.

Gospel Focus

Notice the qualifications Jethro names, for they are timeless: "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness." Ability alone is not enough; the men must fear God, be truthful, and be free from the love of money. The New Testament asks the same of those who lead God's people, "not greedy of filthy lucre," of good report, faithful and true. God's work must be shared, but not with just anyone; it must be entrusted to the godly. And see Moses' greatness in receiving the counsel. The leader whom God spoke to face to face humbly took advice from his father in law and acted on it. True humility is not too proud to be corrected, even by someone outside the inner circle. The result was good for everyone: the burden was shared, the leader was preserved, the people were served "at all seasons," and all "go to their place in peace." This is the pattern for God's work still, godly leaders raising up and trusting other godly helpers, so that the whole body is built up and no one is worn away.