Jethro’s Surprising Visit
After where we’ve been the last several weeks in the book of Exodus, this chapter may come as a bit of a surprise. Up to this point, we have seen Yahweh consistently and convincingly deliver his people with miraculous, supernatural power. You go from delivery from slavery with the Plagues, salvation from judgment in the Passover, ultimate victory in the crossing of the Red Sea, daily provision with manna & water in the wilderness. Each of these episodes had a very obvious focus: that the Israelites and those around them would know that Yahweh is the Lord. But as we come to Exodus 18, you may scan over the chapter heading and see “Jethro’s Visit.” Wait, really? Jethro’s visit? A simple family reunion after such astounding events? How incredibly ordinary and commonplace, practical and normal… well, exactly!
As we’ve noted before in this series, the story of the Exodus is a paradigm by which Christians can understand our own salvation. And in this chapter, we see how normal, everyday relationships are transformed by the good news of what God has done. My hope is that this is eminently applicable for us. That’s what we’re talking about today in Exodus 18 - as we review Moses and Jethro’s interactions, we're going to learn from two very different people, and see practically, how our lives should look differently after experiencing the saving grace of God.
We’ve got three points today. We’re walking through three of the hardest, but most necessary things we can do in any relationship.
Tell the whole story of God’s rescue
Take a risk and offer good advice
Happily receive feedback in humility
Let’s pray, and we’ll dig in.
Father, we ask that you would give us soft hearts to hear and apply your Word to our lives this morning. Please help me, and help us as we see how your grace changes our everyday lives. Amen.
So first, let’s look together at the beginning of Exodus 18. We’re going to jump right in as Moses and the Israelites have made their way from Rephidim towards Sinai, the mountain of God. But now, Jethro has heard something amazing from Moses’ family, and he is coming for a visit. That’s what we see in verses 1-6.
Now, let’s look closely at verses 7 and 8, “Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. Then 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 in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.”
So after greeting Jethro, asking him how he’s doing, how the flocks are, how the tribe is, Moses launches directly into this incredible story of deliverance. He tells Jethro everything. He doesn’t hold back any details. He tells him ALL that the Lord had done, for their sake, because He loves them. He made sure to hit every high point, every supernatural punch landed by their warrior God Yahweh as He got glory over the Egyptians and saved his people in the process. But Moses didn’t stop there. He also explained ALL of the hardship that had come along the way, the bumps and bruises, the winding roads, and the constant whimpering of the people. He explained both the incredible deliverance AND the real-world reality of the journey following God out of slavery, but he emphasized how the Lord had DELIVERED them from it ALL. He told the whole story of God’s rescue.
And don’t miss Jethro’s response here. He exhibits joy, praise, and faith. Look at verse 9 - he “rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel” - he is overjoyed! Next, verse 10, he praises Yahweh, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you.” And finally, he shows his faith in both word & action - verse 11, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods,” and verse 12, as he “brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God.” Because of all of these elements - joy, praise, faith, in response to Moses’ explicit & complete telling of God’s victory, I believe Jethro is one of the first examples in the Bible of a converted outsider.
This is a man who has put his faith in the true God, after hearing the good news of deliverance. It seems that Moses and Aaron agree with this perspective, as we see later in verse 12 that they “came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.” They had a communion meal in the presence of the Lord, welcoming Jethro in.
So this is where we can connect Exodus 18 to sharing the gospel. If you are a Christian in this room, an application point for us here is that we too are to tell the WHOLE story of God’s rescue in our lives. We tell of the situation that we were in before Christ, where we were in bondage, enslaved to ourselves, spinning our wheels trying to make bricks without straw, and devoid any real lasting satisfaction. We tell of the great news that Jesus came for us, died in our place to deliver us, and was raised that we might be forgiven, perfect in the eyes of the Father. We tell of how Jesus came back to life, showing us there is a life to come and promising to bring us with him there.
But just as Moses did with Jethro, we can and should also speak of the hardships as well. It’s not all roses and butterflies immediately once you put your faith in Jesus. In fact, oftentimes your life here on earth circumstantially may harder before it gets better. Christianity is not about being healthier, wealthier, and wiser - it’s not a quick-fix program. Jesus said that his followers would be hated for his sake, so we should expect rejection. He said that in this world, we would have trouble. But we also know that God promises to work all things, the highs and the hardships, together for the good of those who love him.
But here’s the thing. In the busy, hurried, modern world in which we live, we may not have the opportunity to monologue for 45 minutes without the context of a relationship. Remember, Moses lived with or near Jethro for 40 years in Midian prior to these events, and he’s married to the man’s daughter. Yes, we should tell the whole story, but the whole story can take time - and you don’t have to get it all out in one shot. But we do need to speak. It’s not that complicated. It’s been said most ministry happens when ordinary people do ordinary things with gospel intentionality, and watch as God gives the growth. But it’s still hard, isn’t it? Why is that?
We have a deeper issue than not knowing how to share the gospel with others. The problem is - our allegiances are divided, and oftentimes, we don’t even know it. We worship the approval of other people - “what do they think of me?” - and we seek safety there. Think about it. The last time you could have shared your faith with someone, talked about Jesus with them, why didn’t you? Did you feel that creeping awkward sensation right before you opened your mouth? That uncertainty that they wouldn’t like what you had to say? The knowledge that they might think you’re strange, or judgmental, or worse? Remember when you cowered back, afraid to lose the easy approval you had worked so hard to gain? Well, I certainly do.
But listen - the Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:25 that “the fear of man lays a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is safe.” At the end of the day, the approval of others may seem safe, but it’s a trap. It has no bottom, no foundation. People are fickle. Harmony is a good thing, but it cannot save you. Jesus is the One who will come to judge the living and the dead. He is the Lion of Judah, the Rider on the White Horse, the only One whose opinion ultimately matters. Why would we be afraid of kittens who will die when there is a resurrected Lion standing in the same room?? Let’s recommit to telling the whole story of God’s rescue, culminating in Christ, through the myriads of relationships that are scattered throughout our lives, and watch how God will work.
One last thing to mention before we move on. Perhaps you’ve been reminded of a relationship, or a conversation in which you didn’t tell the whole story, and you are feeling a sense of holy conviction. To encourage you, I want to call attention to the contrast between this interaction with Moses and Jethro and their previous recorded one back in Exodus 4. After God meets Moses in the burning bush and lays out the entire rescue plan, Moses needs to ask his shepherd boss Jethro for some time off. I’m sure Moses felt a little bit awkward at this point - in fact, no one else had seen the burning bush, would anyone believe him? And so Moses asks Jethro sheepishly, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” He doesn’t mention God, He doesn’t mention the rescue plan at all. And what happens to Jethro there? Absolutely nothing. They part with a simple “go in peace.” So it’s incredibly encouraging to me to one, see how the Lord grows and matures Moses in the months ahead during the Exodus rescue, but also, how God graciously gives Moses a second chance to tell all that the Lord had done to Jethro, with a glorious result. And He can do the same thing for us.
With that, we’ve moving on now to our second point - Take a risk and offer good advice (covering verses 13-23). Here, we’ll focus on how Jethro approaches his advice, and analyze the content in our next point. Let’s start in verse 14. “The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” Let’s notice four things that Jethro does as he gives advice to Moses, and take these as lessons for us.
Attend
Jethro gives Moses his attention. Before jumping in, he watches, and he listens all day from morning till evening. He waited to understand as much as he could.
Ask
Rather than assuming Moses’ intentions, Jethro asks, “What, would you say, you’re doing here?”
Affirm
Next, if you look down at verse 19, Jethro confirms the good that Moses is doing, and tells him to continue representing the people before God, bringing their cases to Him, and focusing his time on teaching them they way they must walk and what they must do as the people of God.
Advise
Finally, Jethro gives Moses his thoughts on a better way in V21-22. Because this responsibility of leadership is far too much for one man, and because both Moses and the people are likely to wear themselves out in frustration, Jethro tells Moses to share the burden with others. He tells him to look for capable leaders. It’s interesting to note the qualification list he gives here. Pastor Kevin DeYoung comments that he tells Moses to look for their relationship to the task (are they able?), their relationship to God (do they fear Him?), their relationship to others (are they trustworthy?), and their relationship to money (do they hate a bribe?). This is a great foundation to start with for any leadership position.
One other thing I want to call attention to in this section. Even though Jethro is Moses’ father-in-law, this was a risky thing for him to stick his neck out like this. Remember, Jethro is the priest of Midian - he’s not an Israelite. And Moses is now the undisputed leader of a free nation of over a million people… so he’s a pretty powerful guy. And again, I’m reminded of Exodus 4 when Moses argued with God’s own instructions on how he’d speak to Pharaoh. “They won’t listen to me! I’m not eloquent!” And still, Jethro risks offending Moses for his good, and for the good of the people he leads.
But what about us? In our relationships, spreading out from family, to friends, to neighbors & coworkers, how often are we willing to take a risk and offer constructive advice to someone who needs it? Even if you are very different people... even if your lives don't seem to relate all that much? Even that person who seems like they won’t listen? It can be easy to fall into the trap of believing that people won’t change, or that God won’t change their heart. But that is cynicism and doubt! Jesus asks us to speak the truth in love, to believe all things, and hope all things. We can speak with hard edges to our truth when our words are wrapped in the context of care and concern for another.
Finally, let’s move on to our concluding point this morning - happily receiving feedback in humility.
Early on in my marriage to Brook, I can remember many times when my own father-in-law would offer me advice. I love my father-in-law dearly and respect him immensely, and I am incredibly thankful to God for his wisdom, his care, and his concern for my family. Despite that, I can recall frustration and annoyance bubbling up during certain ‘advisory sessions.’ Younger me struggled with pride, and it’s something I still fight. I remember a particular time when we were all on vacation together as a family. It was a beautiful, warm morning in Florida with the sound of the ocean lapping the beach. I was out on the balcony drinking coffee and reading my Bible, not a care in the world.
The only problem was it was our last day there, and we had to be completely out of the room by 11. It was my job to pack, as the other adults watched all the kids. But my luggage wasn’t packed, and my boys things were scattered around our room. My father-in-law popped his head out and advised, “What you are doing is not good! Pack first, then you can relax.” I’m sorry to say, I did not receive this well. I got up, walked in to our room, and started sarcastically tossing bags of luggage on to the pile to take out to the car as I side-eyed him. This was not my best moment - and I regretted it immediately. I apologized to Ray and asked his forgiveness, and he graciously allowed me to bring all 13 bags to the car.
The point is, receiving feedback in humility is not always the easiest thing to do. But here we see in verse 24: “Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.” He listened humbly to his suggestions, and he acted on them immediately. Rather than getting defensive, he was persuadable and open to reason. One of the marks of our growth as a Christian is humility - and we have a great example here. As Moses grew in his relationship with God, seeing more and more of His glory with each passing event, especially his unimaginable power coupled with his astounding grace, it had a remarkable effect on Moses. Remember, this was the man that argued with God prior to the Exodus - and now he’s taking constructive feedback in stride and acting on it in the same day!
It can be so easy for us to think that we know best. Especially if you’ve been doing something a certain way for a while, and you have reasons for it, the pride of our sinful heart will often harden those decisions into positions. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
But the gospel shows us that we were so bad that God Himself had to die to redeem us. We were so lost that we NEVER could have found our own way. And yet, we are more loved in Christ than we could ever imagine, so we can be honest about our flaws and shortcomings, because they do not define us. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4).
Our identity is hidden in Christ - and our old life is dead, along with our white-knuckle convictions soaked in pride. In this new life, we follow Jesus, who says “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus, the high king of the universe, is gentle and lowly in heart. As we learn from him, we can set aside our addiction with being right, and we can find rest in Him being right on our behalf.
As we close this morning, think about the amazing wisdom of what Jethro tells Moses. This new nation could not have survived with a single leader, a single judge. It was far too heavy for one man. Shared leadership, bearing the burden together, was the only way. In his closing point to Moses, Jethro says, “Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace” (V22-23). And this reminds me of Cities Church. First of all, our Great Shepherd Jesus is the head of the church, he’s the great Judge. And we have a team of pastors and elders who share the burden of leadership. But we could not do it without our deacons, and our community leaders, our ministry coordinators, our life group point persons. We are immensely thankful for this structure, because in it we believe that like Jethro says, God is directing us, we are better able to endure, and it is resulting in greater peace for our congregation.
And that brings us to the Table, where we who were outsiders are welcomed in by our great High Priest and Judge Jesus to humbly share in a communion meal. We remember how Jesus took on the task that was too heavy for every one that came before him, from Adam, to Moses, to David, but how HE conquered. His paradoxical conquering came as he laid his life down, allowing Himself to be crushed under the heavy weight of our sin. And now, we partake of his sacrifice together in order to be strengthened for the road ahead, so we can do the hard things for the good of our relationships. Let's pray.
So Father, yes, that's what we want. We need you to direct us, that in compassion we would share the whole story of the great news of your rescue with those around us. And we ask for endurance, and that by the Holy Spirit you would grant us in greater and greater measure to go to the place you have prepared for us in peace. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.