Êxodo 18

Êxodo 18

Meyer - Our Daily Homily Exodus 18:23 And God command thee so. It was good and sound advice that Jethro gave his son-in-law. It could hardly have been better. It is always better to set one hundred men to work than attempt to do the work of one hundred men. There is no greater art in the world than to develop the latent capacities of those around us by yoking them to useful service. But good though the advice obviously was, Jethro carefully guarded Moses against adopting it, unless the Lord had been consulted, and had commanded it. Let us test human advice. — There are plenty of voices that advise us, and each has some nostrum for our health, some direction for our path. Some are true guides, whom God has sent to us, as Jethro to Moses. Often an onlooker can see mistakes we are making, and can suggest something better. But we are wise to get alone into the holy presence of God, and ask what He commands, what is his will. Let us test human teachings — So full is the world of voices, so bewildering the din of religious schools and sects! The Apostle was justified in advising us to prove all things, and to try the spirits, whether they were of God. There are four tests for truth what glorifies Christ; what humbles the flesh; what is in accord with the Word of God; and what has stood the trial of Christian experience in the past. There is no teacher like God, and we may always detect his voice. It is small and still; it casts down imagination, and brings our thoughts into the captivity of Jesus; it is definite and distinct. When there is an indistinct murmur of many sounds along the wire, you may be sure that you are not in communication with your Fathers person. When He speaks, there is no mistaking his voice or his will. Exodus 18:24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Ex 18:2-5,19 Ezr 10:2,5 Pr 1:5 1Co 12:21 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES ACCEPTS JETHRO'S PLAN So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said - "The idiom “listen to the voice of” means “obey, comply with, heed.”" (NET) This speaks of the heart of Moses, willing to submit and humble to receive the words of wise counsel. These are traits we should all seek to emulate! Exodus 18:25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Ex 18:21 De 1:15 Ac 6:5 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JETHRO'S PLAN IS ACTIVATED Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens - Notice Moses carried out Jethro's plan with no complaints, and without adding or taking away from his counsel. Exodus 18:26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. at all times- Ex 18:14,22 the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses - Ex 18:15,22 De 17:8 1Ki 3:16-28 10:1 Job 29:16 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JETHRO'S PLAN WORKED They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge - Jethro's plan worked as he had described to Moses. Exodus 18:27 Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land. Ge 24:59 31:55 Nu 10:29,30 Jdg 19:9 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES SAYS GOOD BYE TO JETHRO Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell - NET Note says "The verb וַיְשַׁלַּח (vayshallakh) has the same root and same stem used in the passages calling for Pharaoh to “release” Israel. Here, in a peaceful and righteous relationship, Moses sent Jethro to his home." and he went his way into his own land - NET Note - This chapter makes an excellent message on spiritual leadership of the people of God. Spiritually responsible people are to be selected to help in the work of the ministry (teaching, deciding cases, meeting needs), so that there will be peace, and so that leaders will not be exhausted. Probably capable people are more ready to do that than leaders are ready to relinquish control. But leaders have to be willing to take the risk, to entrust the task to others. Here Moses is the model of humility, receiving correction and counsel from Jethro. And Jethro is the ideal adviser, for he has no intention of remaining there to run the operation.