# 48 2024 Dev. Ex.18:5. Wise Leadership! “Read all of chapter eighteen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ex.18:5 “Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God.”
Ex.18 While the Israelites were camped near Mt. Sinai, Moses’ father in law came to visit him and returned his wife and sons, who Moses sent back to him before he entered Egypt. Jethro was the priest of Midian. Some commentators think Jethro was a Kenite, but others think he was a Midianite, which makes sense given his priesthood. In passing he is also known as Reuel. It is commonly accepted that he was known by seven names and he is the main prophet of the Druze religion practiced in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel. Jethro offered advice to Moses that released him for the more important work of teaching the Israelites how to worship and how to live.
Vs.1-6 Here we learn that Moses had sent his wife and children back home from their trip to Egypt. We also learn the meaning of the names of Moses’ children. The first born Gershom, “I become a foreigner in a foreign land.” The second son was named Eliezer, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” Moses led Israel out of a foreign land and he is leading them into a foreign land. Hebrews 11:9-10 teaches us what Israel’s situation foreshadows and sets direction for us, the church today. Abraham; “By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” What Hebrews is talking about is the “New Heaven and the New Earth.”
Vs.7-12 “Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him… Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians… Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.”
Vs.13-27 “The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.” The problem with Moses’ method is that all of his time was taken up with people with problems or disagreements. If a leader or pastor spends all his time with people with chronic problems less assertive people with problems will fall through the cracks. Jethro gives Moses the method of distributing the responsibility of leadership that does not overwhelm the leaders. Jethro gives this advice but he defers to God, ‘If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”’ A word to the wise, thanks be to God!
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