Every follower of Christ is called on to mentor or disciple others, helping them grow in wisdom and maturity. During this study we will be focusing on six different mentoring relationships seen in the Bible, challenging us to get involved in helping others develop their spiritual walk. Today we see an interaction between Moses and his father-in-law Jethro and we learn that we are to be ready to give and receive godly wisdom.
Good leaders surround themselves with good advisors, and the best leaders are those who do not think too highly of themselves and who have a teachable spirit. This applies to all of us regardless of our role or position in life. At the same time, we should not be hesitant to offer wise principles to those who would benefit. We are to be about the purpose of “highlighting the good” and “improving the evil” that surrounds us by assisting to steer humanity towards reverence for God. Each one of us needs a mentor, and each one of us can serve as a mentor.
I have often thought of a mentor in the capacity of an older person teaching a younger, but that is not necessarily what a mentor is. A Mentor is a “wise adviser, intimate friend who also is a sage counselor." The word derives from the character named Mentor in the Greek Epic Odessy, by Homer. It’s meaning is derived from ancient words meaning “one who thinks” or “one who admonishes”. Both of these descriptions describes one who highlights the good and seeks to improve the evil that surrounds them. So, who doesn’t need a wise, thinking friend who is also a sage counselor? Even the oldest and wisest of us has a Mentor or Mentors. Even Moses had his Mentor.
Today we look at Exodus 18:9-11,14-21 and learn how Jethro had some good advice for his hard working son-in-law. God, through His servant Moses, led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Moses, as the leader of the community, was naturally sought out to settle disputes within the community. He had begun to act as a judge between individuals. This was well and good, but the way in which he carried it out was not efficient. So let’s see what Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, a priest from Midian, had to offer.
Exodus 18:9-11
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he rescued them from the power of the Egyptians.
10 “Blessed be the Lord,” Jethro exclaimed, “who rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh. He has rescued the people from under the power of Egypt!
11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.”
Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law is first introduced in Exodus 2 and is called “Reuel” in verse 18 where we learn that he was a priest of Midian. The Midianites were descended from Abraham through his second wife Keturah after Sarah died. Keturah bore Abraham six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. So, like the Israelites, the Midianites were descendants of Abraham, but not descendants of Abraham’s primary heir, Jacob (or Israel).
The personal name of Israel's God, YHWH, pronounced Yahweh, or Yehowah, is unattested in periods earlier than the Bronze Age. Unlike other Iron Age deities, such as Baal, El, Asherah, and Chemosh, YHWH appears seemingly out of nowhere. Current scholarly consensus on the origin of this name centers on some variation of the "Midianite Hypothesis" where the deity known as Yahweh was originally a deity worshipped by Midianites in the northwest Arabian Desert.
This existential interpretation of God’s name goes back at least to the third century B.C. when the Pentateuch was translated into Greek. When Exodus 3:14–15 was translated, “God spoke to Moses, saying, ‘I am the being-one (ego eimi ho on).‘ . . . Say to the children of Israel, ‘The being-one (ho on) has sent me to you.'”
The Bible reports that after Moses told Jethro of God’s deliverance, that priest worshiped God and celebrated the wonderful things God had done. God, having brought His people out of slavery, was in the process of setting these people apart as His treasured possession. Jethro used the phrase power of the Egyptians or “power of Egypt” three times in just a few verses. Moses wanted us to know that the power of God is greater than the power of the most powerful nation on earth. The greatest powers of the nations are nothing compared to the power of the One who created all things. The New Testament consistently teaches that those who are outside of Christ are enslaved to sin. The only way the Israelites were able to escape enslavement to the Egyptians was through the power of God over the humanly created gods of Egypt. The only way people can be freed from slavery to sin is through the power of God in Christ.
Jethro then blessed God.This word was chosen in Old English bibles to translate Latin benedicere and Greek eulogein, both of which carry the concept of "to speak well of, to praise." But Scripture translates the Hebrew word brk "to bend (the knee), worship, praise, invoke blessings." Blessing God is an action taken after becoming aware of and acknowledging God’s awesome nature. Blessing God is, basically, an act of worship giving God the praise that God rightfully deserves. “Blessing God” does not necessarily HAVE to be a flowery eulogy of God, it can be as simple as “let me tell you of God’s awesomeness in my life….” It helps keep OUR focus upon God and his good and awesome nature, and might help others to come to realize the goodness of God as well.
Jethro had earlier spoken of how the Lord rescued “them” from slavery in Egypt, indicating that he was not included in that people group. But it now he brought this salvation closer to his audience by using you. Jethro reminded the people that God is interested in saving individuals, not just the abstract idea of salvation.
The power of God impacted Jethro in a personal way, and Jethro spoke of this impact as knowing. Now we learn the content of that knowledge. Jethro declared the Lord is greater than all gods. The word that Jethro used (“Lord”) is the covenant name of God, Yahweh. The Bible is telling us that the unlimited nature of God’s power is greater than the power of the Egyptians or of any limited god that humans recognize.
How did Jethro know the Lord is greater than all other gods? Because he did wonders. More than the concept of “YHWH did magical, magnificent things” Jethro merely “looked at the results”. He bottom-lined it by looking at the outcomes that God achieved against all odds.
The New Testament speaks of the wonders Jesus performed. If you put aside the “magic” of raising the dead, healing, etc. that Jesus did, what IS the bottom line of Jesus’ life and ministry? In just about any way that you can look at it one must conclude that his ministry has had the effect of releasing humanity from its slavery to sin and has led them to the promised land of reconciliation with God…if they but choose to make the journey.
The Egyptian urbanites, the elite of the empire, acted arrogantly. The book of Genesis reports how the Lord had saved the entire country of Egypt through Israel’s son Joseph, but instead of acknowledging the work of the Lord and honoring the descendants of Israel (Jacob), the Egyptians acted arrogantly, ultimately enslaving them.
Likewise the Hellenistic Hebrew Nation acted arrogantly towards Jesus and his followers by seeking to destroy those of different thinking. The Roman Empire acted arrogantly by ultimately enslaving the Christian believers. Even in our current era there are those “elite” people who would place themselves in opposition to the people of THE Being-one. In ANY where in the world has any world power NOT sought to enslave the believers and followers of God in some form?
But Jethro noted a weakness in Moses’ administration and shared with him his observation and offered a suggestion.
Exodus 18:14-18
14 When Moses’s father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”
17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him.
18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone.”
Jethro observed what was happening before offering advice. He did not insert himself into a situation about which he was ignorant. In today’s world we often jump into conversations before we have adequate information. Social media is full of opinions and “pushback” based on knee-jerk reactions rather than considered opinions. Jethro was not like that. He observed, then offered feedback in the form of constructive criticism of his son-in-law.
In addition to being circumspect in giving advice, Jethro also showed himself to be a skilled teacher. Instead of jumping straight to giving advice, Jethro urged Moses to reflect on the situation he was in. Jethro gave concrete advice in the next few verses, but in the opening part of the conversation with Moses, Jethro guided Moses to discover that he needed to make a change in his approach to leadership. The people were standing around doing nothing all day. Remember there were six hundred thousand men in addition to their families (Ex. 12:37), and Moses was attempting to be the sole judge for this massive group of people. Moses said he doing it because there was a need for the work to be done. Moses, being a kind and compassionate leader, desired to help them. He was serving them in the best way he knew how. In the next few verses, Moses discovered there was a better way to serve the people.
Hard-working people often focus upon the task and the outcome, rather than think the best PROCESS that they can do to allow for the load to be shared. Jethro showed Moses a better way. The people were looking for a mediator—for someone who would settle their disputes.
Moses did not deny that the role of mediator was a needed one. He said his role as mediator was twofold. The first aspect was to make a decision between two people—to judge between them. Humans, just as they did when they were siblings, look to an authority to judge between them. Sister: “He took my doll and broke it”. Brother: “I did not, she gave it to me and it was already broken.” Both: “Make it all better!”
The second aspect of Moses’s role was to be a teacher of God’s laws. It should be noted that Moses had not yet received the Law. That would happen beginning in the next chapter when Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, the instructions for the tabernacle, and the other laws. Despite having not yet received the whole Law, Moses had special insight into God’s concepts of justice and civil law.
While Jethro understood the importance of the work Moses was doing, Jethro told Moses that the way he was conducting the work was not good. Remember, the word good refers to suitable. Jethro was pointing out to Moses that the WAY you are conducting your work is not suitable to achieve the outcomes you desire.
Jethro told Moses that continuing to operate without others would be detrimental, not only to him but also to those whom he was seeking to serve. Here in Exodus 18, Jethro observed it was not good that Moses was trying to govern the people alone. Jethro suggested Moses find and train others who could help him.
Exodus 18:19-21
19 “Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to him.
20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.
21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating dishonest profit. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.”
Moses was fulfilling the role of mediator, and that would not change with the advice that Jethro had given him. In this role, he was standing between the people and the Lord. Jethro was calling on Moses to multiply his ministry so more people would be helped by God. The Law had not yet been given to the people. As such, the people were dependent upon Moses alone to tell them about God’s laws and statutes. Jethro’s suggestion would begin to multiply the number of people that could do so.
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah prophesied about the new covenant and how it would be different. Instead of depending upon priests as mediators as was set up in this passage, the new covenant instituted through Jesus is marked by each person being able to go directly to God. Jesus is the final and perfect ever-present Mediator.
Jethro encouraged Moses to find men who could serve alongside him. Just as the New Testament would give instructions about the qualifications of elders and deacons, Jethro told Moses that the men he chose to be judges must be able. Jethro listed three qualities that should characterize each of these men.
- First, the men had to be God-fearing who would understand and appreciate that they worked for God and not for the people.
- Second, the men must be trustworthy indicating firmness or faithfulness. The men must be reliable. They should not be the kind of men who would make excuses when the work did not get done or was done poorly.
- Finally, the men must hate dishonest profit and be above reproach in matters related to finances and personal integrity.
Jethro said he should place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. At a population around 600,000 this could have been as few as 600 men, or as many as 60,000. That job alone would have been a “real piece of work!”
In the end, the men whom Moses chose were given real responsibilities. Their roles were not ceremonial. Instead, the men were to command over different allotments of people. We should also note that the number given to different individuals would vary. The assignment was not about the leader’s ego. It was about carrying out the work of God in a manner worthy of the God, YHWH’s, nature.
From Jethro’s example of Mentoring we learn that:
- A major goal in any mentoring relationship should include teaching concerning God and His ways.
- It should focus on not simply identifying problems, but on discovering and offering solutions.
- For those who are being mentored, Moses modeled a critical component: a teachable spirit. The Mentored must desire to gratefully receive the wisdom of the Mentor.
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