Exodus 18

Exodus 18:1-27

Moses Honours Jethro — - Exodus 18:1-27 records the visit of Jethro to Moses at Mount Sinai (Exodus 18:5) and their sacrifice and meal together. Jethro becomes the central figure in this narrative material, perhaps because Moses gives honor to his father-in-law when writing the book of Exodus. Jethro was greatly received and honoured by Moses. In this story, it is possible that Jethro serves as a type and figure of God the Father, while Moses is a type and figure of Jesus Christ bringing God’s people through redemption (1 Corinthians 10:2). 1 Corinthians 10:2, “And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;” In the story of redemption, Jesus rose from the grave, ascended to Heaven, and offered His blood sacrifice once for all for mankind (Hebrews 9:12). Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Perhaps the meeting of Jethro and Moses represents this atoning sacrifice of Jesus that God the Father gave to mankind when the Jethro brought a sacrifice and offered it unto the Lord (Exodus 18:12). Note two divisions to this section:

1. Jethro Meets Moses — Exodus 18:1-122. Jethro Advices Moses — Exodus 18:13-27

Exodus 18:13-27

Jethro Advices Moses – Exodus 18:13-27 records the incident in which Jethro advises Moses on how to delegate judges to assist him in judging the matters of the people. After Moses honours Jethro, his father-in-law gives Moses wisdom regarding organizing leadership among the children of Israel so that all of them can receive wisdom and ministry. This event symbolizes High Priesthood of Jesus Christ, seen in Jethro’s comment to Moses, “You be for the people an advocate before God, and you bring the problems to God.”[79] (Exodus 18:19). The ordaining by Moses of leaders over the people represents church order and service. Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand to judge His church, while sending forth the Holy Spirit to anoint the five-fold ministry and give the gifts of the Spirit to the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:8-13). If a child of God will submit himself to the leadership of a local fellowship, he will be able to experience the gifts and anointings of the Holy Spirit and join in the ministry of helps. [79] Translation by John I. Durham, Exodus, in Word Biblical Commentary: 58 Volumes on CD-Rom, vol. 3, eds. Bruce M. Metzger, David A. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker (Dallas: Word Inc., 2002), in Libronix Digital Library System, v. 3.0b [CD-ROM] (Bellingham, WA: Libronix Corp., 2004), translation of Exodus 18:19.Paul writes to the church at Ephesus and tells them “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Ephesians 4:8) Paul then lists the 5-fold ministry gifts that God gave the Church. Exodus 18:13-27 is a type and figure of God equipping the Church through the offices and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Exodus 18:19 — Comments – Jethro tells Moses to stand before God and bring the difficult issues that Moses could not resolve before Him. Jethro could say this because he was a priest himself ministering in behalf of his people (Exodus 2:16). Moses would teach the people the laws and statutes so that the leaders could have guidelines to follow in helping judge matters. Those matters that could not be resolved at lower levels of leadership could be brought to Moses, who could bring them before the Lord for an answer. We see a clear example of this happening in Numbers 15:32-36 when the people brought a man to Moses who had been picking up sticks on the Sabbath. The Lord spoke to Moses to have the man put to death. Exodus 2:16, “Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.” Exodus 18:20 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. Exodus 18:20 — Comments – The tribe of Levi will be called out to teach the Israelites the Mosaic law and its statutes. When these laws are understood by the people, there would be less offences and clear guidelines in resolving conflicts. Exodus 18:21 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: Exodus 18:21 — “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness” - Comments – Jethro told Moses to choose out men with leadership qualities. In the midst of the murmuring and complaining, there were men in the camp who feared God and were willing to walk in His statutes. Paul wrote a similar charge to Timothy to choose out men with similar qualifications for the office of a bishop (1 Timothy 3:1-13). Exodus 18:21-22 — Comments – Jehoshaphat organized the nation of Judah using a similar order of judging the people (2 Chronicles 19:5-11). Exodus 18:25 — Comments - Note that Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David, will later organize the armies of Israel by these same divisions. Jesus himself, while feeding the five thousand, organized the meal by dividing people into groups of hundreds and fifties (Mark 6:40). Mark 6:40, “And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.” Exodus 18:26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. Exodus 18:27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.