Ex. 18: Father-In-Law's Suggestions for the Son-In-Law

Word travels fast, and amazing words travel at light-speed. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law whom we first met way back in Exodus 4:18, got word of all the amazing things God was doing through Moses.

Apparently, at some point, Moses had sent Zipporah and his two sons Gershom and Eliezer away. I don't know when, and I don't know why. Perhaps it was because she was a Midianite, and wasn't into the whole circumcision thing.

But Jethro comes to visit Moses in the desert, with Zippy and the boys in tow. I think Jethro was just kind of curious about what was going on, and wanted to witness for himself these great things God was doing. So Moses gives him the whole story.

Jethro also appears to come to some sort of a faith in God, the LORD of Israel. A priest of Midian, Jethro offers praise and a burnt offering to God, celebrating how God delivered Israel from Egypt and from those peoples who treated Israel with such arrogance.

Well, the next day, Moses takes his judgment seat in front of the Israelites. Evidently it was Moses' job to settle any disputes or issues that may arise among the Israelites. They lined up in a huge crowd around him, and sought God's will from Moses.

Jethro offered a bit of advice, with humility and grace, in that Moses should set up some trustworthy, Godly men to be his subordinates, and handle all the little petty things that come up such as parking tickets and jaywalking. Jethro suggests having officials in charge of the thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens of people. It will lighten Moses load, and involve more people in sharing God's commands.

Moses figured this was a pretty good idea, and picked out some guys, put them in charge, and things went the way Jethro suggested. That's neat.

Then Moses sent him on his way.

I wonder if Jethro brought God back to his own country, whether he spread it around, or kept it to himself, or if this newfound faith faded.