Contributor: Clinton Alex Chollom

INTRODUCTION
In this Chapter, Moses had an encounter with his father-in-law, Jethro, that teaches him a valuable lesson about how to lead God’s people. The Bible is primarily a book about redemption, not leadership. However, since God generally leads His people through others, and since God desires that the leaders of His people be capable and qualified, the Bible does give us both principles of good leadership, as well as specific qualities that leaders should embody. In this Chapter, we see some of both.
In chapter 18 the Lawgiver (Moses) who has previously been the advice giver is the one been advised. He is given advice to organize the elders to assist. Thus, when the Law is fully revealed, a system will be in place to administer it. One very important point from this passage is that a great leader humbly accepts advice from another Godly believer to delegate responsibility. He does not try to do it all himself; God does not want one individual to do it all.

This Chapter highlights severally key lessons which will be discussed in more details.
i. Firstly, it shows the fulfilment of God’s promise to Moses in Exodus 4:27, that he would see his family again after he had done what God commanded him in Egypt.

ii. Secondly, it shows the recognition and worship of the true God by Jethro, a priest of Midian, who was not an Israelite, but a descendant of Abraham through his second wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1–2). This foreshadows the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s salvation plan, as well as the role of the priests in teaching and mediating God’s law.

iii. Thirdly, it shows the establishment of a judicial system in Israel, based on the principle of delegation and representation. This prepares the way for the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, and the formation of a covenant community under God’s rule.

iv. Fourthly, it shows the wisdom and humility of Moses, who was willing to listen to Jethro’s counsel and to share his authority and responsibility with others. This demonstrates the qualities of a good leader, who seeks God’s guidance and the welfare of the people.

EXEGESIS:
Outline
i. Understanding Delegation.
ii. Jethro brings Moses’ wife and sons back to him (1-6).
iii. Jethro expresses faith in God and offers a sacrifice to Him (7-12).
iv. Jethro observes and counsels Moses on his judicial role (13-23)
v. Moses follows Jethro’s advice and bids him farewell (24-27)

i. Understanding Delegation
Delegation, the act, and the art of entrusting tasks and responsibilities to others, is a fundamental aspect of effective leadership. Delegation when done well is one of the most powerful tools a leader has. It is not just about saving time in fact “research from Gallup shows that leaders who delegate effectively generate 33% more revenue than those who didn’t.” Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself demonstrated profitability as a kingdom trait (Matt 25:14-30).

ii. Jethro brings Moses’ wife and sons back to him (1-6)
“1And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) 4and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); 5and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

This section introduces the main characters of the chapter: Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law; Zipporah, Moses’ wife; and Gershom and Eliezer, Moses’ sons. Their names reflect their experiences and identities: Jethro means “his excellence” or “his abundance”; Zipporah means “bird” or “sparrow”; Gershom means “a stranger there”; and Eliezer means “my God is help”.

God had declared His purpose to show He was the real God and the Egyptian gods were not. Jethro had heard of what had happened in Egypt. Even at that time, news travelled pretty fast, probably mostly through merchants and traders. Apparently, Moses hadn’t had any contact with Jethro yet, but Jethro took the initiative to seek him out based on the news he had heard. This is clear evidence that God’s purpose was accomplished. People far and wide must have heard what had happened in Egypt. This gave many people the chance to believe who might not have known much about God before.
Jethro brought Moses’ family back to him. There is no record of how Moses’ family went back to Jethro. Very likely Moses sent them back for their safety. Egypt would not have been comfortable or easy at that time. Their lives were constantly threatened. Although Moses needed to be there to accomplish God’s plans, he wanted to protect his family during this time. We don’t know all the backgrounds or reasons for this decision, so it is hard to evaluate.

Question
From the above outline, we see Moses had to leave his family for Egypt to follow his divine calling. Similarly, in our current dispensation, couples in various cases separate most specifically in search for greener pasture. What are the effects of this separation and how can it be remediated when it is not avoidable?

iii. Jethro expresses faith in God and offers a sacrifice to Him (7-12)
7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. 8And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

We have to respect the person we receive counsel from. We must be humble and respectful. It is best to ask someone we respect. Moses respected his father-in-law and this was the foundation for the counselling relationship they would have later. Although he was the leader of all Israel, the prophet from God, had seen God in the burning bush, talked with God face to face, relayed God’s messages to people, stood up to and defeated Egypt, he was not prideful. He didn’t ask Jethro to bow to him, but instead honoured him by bowing to Jethro. This is right because the Bible says to honour your parents (Eph 6:1). He approached the relationship not as the greater and not as equals, but as a son.

Moses tells Jethro clearly in detail of what God had done for them. Jethro had heard some about it, but probably just bits and pieces. Also, the source of his news wasn’t nearly as firsthand as Moses, but more like a rumour mill passed on from one to another or people who saw from a distance. Also, the people who shared wouldn’t have shared from a background of belief in God. All these reasons are why Moses needed to tell Jethro directly what had happened.

Notice that Moses gives God all the credit. He doesn’t take it for himself. He said it was what the Lord had done to Pharaoh and that the Lord had delivered them. If Moses wanted credit this would be any place to get it because Jethro wasn’t there or an eyewitness. Moses could have exaggerated his own heroics and played down God’s involvement. But he didn’t. All the credit belonged to God and Moses gave it to Him.
Jethro’s response indicates he is a believer in God. If he wasn’t a complete believer before, he was now. This is yet another example that God’s purpose was accomplished in Egypt.

iv. Jethro observes and counsels Moses on his judicial role (13-23)
13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

This outline highlights Jethro’s wisdom and insight into the problem of Moses’ workload and the solution of delegation and representation. Jethro saw that Moses was spending all day judging the people, who came to him to inquire of God. He asked Moses why he was doing this alone, and what the people’s purpose was. Moses explained that he was acting as God’s mediator and judge, and that he was teaching the people God’s statutes and laws. Jethro recognized that this was not good for Moses or the people, and that it would wear them out. He told Moses that the task was too heavy for him, and that he could not do it by himself. He advised Moses to listen to his voice and to do what he said. He said that this would make Moses able to endure, and that the people would go to their place in peace.

Jethro’s advice was to appoint able men from among the people, who feared God, were men of truth, and hated covetousness, to be rulers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. These men would judge the people at all times, and bring the hard cases to Moses, but judge the small matters themselves. Jethro also told Moses to teach the people God’s ordinances and laws, and to show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Jethro’s advice was based on the principle that God is the ultimate judge and lawgiver, and that Moses and the other judges were His servants and representatives. Jethro also recognized the need for order and organization in society, and the division of labor and responsibility among the leaders. Jethro’s advice was also in line with God’s will and purpose, as he said, “If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace” (Exodus 18:23).

Question
Easier said than done, we all know delegation is an effective leadership skill but often at times relinquishing authority can be difficult. What are some practical ways for emerging leaders to practice this leadership skill effectively without forcing it?

v. Moses follows Jethro’s advice and bids him farewell (24-27)
24So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25And 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. 26So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves. 27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.

Listen to counsel. Here is the climax of the whole story. Moses listened to counsel. This doesn’t mean he sat there and listened and nodded and said “yes, yes, good” and then walk away without changing anything. HE FOLLOWED THE COUNSEL. He did what Jethro suggested. There is no point in asking counsel from others just to say you did it if you didn’t plan to truly consider the counsel. God touched Jethro’s heart to tell Moses for a reason. If somebody comes to you with counsel, be willing to listen and if it seems it is God’s will, follow the counsel even if it is difficult, even if it requires sacrifice, even if it is the opposite of what you wanted to do. Jethro just appears for a little while in this story, but he had a major impact on the future course of Israel and Moses’ life. Counsel is important. Just 10 minutes of counsel or even one sentence could change the course of somebody’s entire life. Therefore, don’t throw it out casually. Think about it. Pray about it. If it is biblical, give it a try.

CONCLUSION
Moses’ obedience and humility demonstrate his qualities as a good leader, who sought God’s guidance and the welfare of the people. Moses did not reject Jethro’s advice out of pride or stubbornness but accepted it as a wise and beneficial suggestion. Moses also did not cling to his authority or power but shared it with others who were qualified and capable. Moses also did not neglect his primary role as God’s prophet and teacher but continued to instruct the people in God’s ways and will.