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Exodus 18 “God’s Work in My Life”

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5–7 minutes

Exodus 18 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

Explanation:

When Moses returned to Egypt from Midian, he brought his wife and two sons with him (Exodus 4:20). Although it is not explicitly recorded, sometime after that, Moses sent his wife and two sons back to Midian.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law (also known as Hobab and Reuel), heard about everything that had happened to Moses and Israel. So, he came to Rephidim, bringing Moses’ wife and two grandsons with him (verses 1–7). To Moses, Jethro was like a father. Moses shared with him in detail everything he had experienced (verse 8). His wife was likely to be present as well. As a leader, Moses would have poured out the pain and wounds he had endured. He would have told how God had acted on behalf of him and the people of Israel. This moment must have been a time of rest and healing for Moses. In front of his father-in-law and wife, he could lay down the role of leader and be a vulnerable man.

Upon hearing all of Moses’ stories, his father-in-law rejoiced (v.9) and acknowledged that the God who saved Israel is truly “worthy of praise” (v.10) and “greater than all other gods” (v.11). When God sent the ten plagues, He declared that all nations would come to know that He is the one true God. That prophecy was fulfilled in this foreign priest, Jethro. Together with Moses, Jethro offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to the God of Israel (v.12).

The next day, Jethro observed Moses handling all the disputes of the people from morning until evening (v.13). At that time, there was no one else to resolve such matters besides Moses himself (vv.14–16). Seeing this, Jethro said with concern, “What you are doing is not good” (v.17), and then offered two suggestions.

First, Jethro advised Moses to teach the people the “decrees and laws” of God so that they could follow the right path on their own (vv.19–20). If they understood God’s ways, they wouldn’t need to come to Moses for every little issue, constantly asking, “What should we do?” They would be able to discern and decide for themselves. Second, Jethro suggested that Moses establish a system of organization (vv.21–23). He advised Moses to select “capable and trustworthy men who fear God, are honest, and hate dishonest gain” (v.21) and appoint them as officials over groups of a thousand, a hundred, fifty, and ten—so that they could handle cases according to their severity.

Moses accepted his father-in-law’s advice and first implemented the organizational structure (vv.24–25). Only then was he able to be freed from the burden of overwhelming responsibility (v.26). As for teaching the decrees and laws, that part would have to wait until God gave Moses further instructions. Not long after, Jethro returned to his own homeland, leaving his daughter and grandsons with Moses (v.27).

Meditation:

Jethro is introduced as the priest of Midian. This means he was a worshiper of the local deities believed in by the Midianite people. Moses, then, had lived for forty years in the household of a pagan priest. Yet Jethro never forced his own faith upon Moses, and Moses did not try to convert Jethro to his own beliefs. Jethro likely believed that every nation had its own god, and Moses, at that point, had not yet encountered the one true God in a personal way. They likely respected each other’s religions without interfering. Outwardly, this may have looked peaceful, but in truth, it reflected the lives of people who had never truly encountered God.

When they met again at Rephidim, Moses had changed. While living in Midian, Moses had only “heard about” God. But by the time he met Jethro again, Moses had encountered God personally and repeatedly witnessed His power. He came to know that the One who calls Himself “I Am” is unlike any of the false gods other nations worship. The true God was the One who led Israel through the Red Sea. And so, Moses shared the story of this God he had experienced. After hearing it, Jethro acknowledged that the God of Israel is indeed the true God and offered sacrifices to Him.

Sharing the story of what God has done in your life—that is evangelism. A person who has not encountered God, or whose eyes have not been opened to Him, cannot truly evangelize. Someone whose life has not been transformed by God has no story to tell. That was the case with Moses while he was living in Midian. If someone like that attempts to evangelize, it will likely result in empty arguments and provoke resistance. The most powerful form of evangelism is to humbly and sincerely share how God has worked in your life.

Prayer:

Lord, may the story of our lives become Your story. Fill our lives with the work of Your hands, so that we may testify to You before those who do not yet know You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: When we experience God’s love and power in our lives, we can share that story with others. True evangelism isn’t about arguing or convincing—it’s about humbly and honestly sharing how God has helped and changed us.

  • For Preschool-Elementary
    • Have you ever had a moment when you felt God helped you or answered your prayer? What happened?
    • Moses told his father-in-law about all the things God had done. Who is someone you can talk to about God?
    • Why do you think it’s important to share stories about what God has done in our lives?
  • For Youth
    • What is one experience in your life where you saw or felt God working? How did that impact you?
    • Why do you think sharing personal stories about God is more powerful than just telling people what to believe?
    • Jethro believed in many gods before, but after hearing Moses’ story, he believed in the one true God. How can your story help others discover who God is?

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