Jethro

MEMORY VERSE: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” —Proverbs 13:20

EXODUS 18:5, 10, 11, 13-22

THE Bible first introduces us to Jethro under the name “Reuel.” (Exod. 2:18) He was a priest, or prince of Midian. (vs. 16, margin) There is nothing in the record to indicate what his religious convictions may have been, although, through contact with Moses, and later with the people of Israel, he seems to have become very much impressed with Jehovah, the God of Israel.

When Moses fled from Pharaoh and from Egypt, he went to Midian. He was introduced to Reuel, or Jethro, by his seven daughters, whom he had aided in connection with the drawing of water for themselves and their father’s flocks. Jethro invited him to remain in the home with the family, which he did. He married Zipporah, one of Jethro’s daughters, and was a part of the family during the forty years which intervened between the time Moses fled from Pharaoh, until he returned to Egypt to demand the release of the Hebrew people from their slavery.

We next learn of Jethro after the Exodus. He went into the wilderness where the Israelites were encamped, taking Moses’ wife and their two sons to him. Apparently these had remained in Midian during the time Moses was in Egypt bringing about the deliverance of the Israelites.

Moses told Jethro “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.” (vs. 8) “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.”—vs. 9

Jethro was greatly impressed by what the God of Moses had accomplished, and said, “Blessed be the Lord. … Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.” (vss. 10,11) It seems logical to suppose that during those forty years which Moses spent in the household of Jethro he must have told his father-in-law much about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the wonderful promises he had made to them.

But perhaps, in view of the fact that Moses had to abandon his people to their taskmasters in Egypt, Jethro was not at that time favorably impressed. But now it was different. There was unmistakable evidence that Israel’s God was powerful, and that he had remembered and delivered his people, and he rejoiced.

Jethro did not return to Midian immediately. The next day he observed Moses’ way of dealing with the problems of the people; that he was undertaking to do this unassisted. The result was that from morning until night this great leader of God’s people was busy hearing and adjusting their complaints. This was not only a great strain on Moses, but it was also difficult for the people. We can imagine that many of them had to stand in line for hours waiting to be heard.

So Jethro suggested to Moses that he appoint helpers in this huge task, that he select trustworthy, unselfish men, and appoint them to be rulers over thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, and tens. These were to hear the problems of the people, and judge among them in all cases for which they deemed themselves qualified. The larger issues, at their discretion, could be referred to Moses. Moses readily accepted this suggestion. He was not power hungry, but willing that others should share his authority.

Jethro counseled Moses to instruct the men he selected in the law of God so that they might be qualified to teach and judge the people in keeping with the Lord’s will. This was good counsel, for it meant that the people would thus be learning more and more about their God and his divine law by which they were being governed.

QUESTIONS

Who was Jethro?

How did Moses get acquainted with him?

How much did Jethro know about Israel’s God?

Outline the counsel Jethro gave to Moses.

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