“Was Jethro’s advice convenient but not God’s choice?”

June 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: Several writers explain that Jethro’s advice to Moses was helpful, as it gave responsibility for judging lesser cases to other men. However, other Bible teachers ... point out that what Jethro advised was not what God wanted ... Was Jethro’s advice convenient but not God’s choice?

ANSWER: Indeed, Exodus 18 is a Scripture passage many sound, godly expositors have disagreed on, and continue to do so today. We know that God’s Word is a most wonderful book. It gives us an accurate record of events in the past, especially in relation to mankind in general, to God’s earthly people Israel and to God’s heavenly people – the Church (or more accurately, the Assembly).

There are often important practical lessons for us to learn from these accounts. In fact, God has made the lessons in many of these stories very simple, appealing and readily understood to reach the hearts of our children to instruct them. This is also why many additional details we would be interested to know are simply not included, for they would distract from the lessons God wants us to learn. A narrative may be given us several times in Scripture, each time adding or omitting details in line with the emphasis of the particular book or passage.

These same passages of God’s Word also often give us many types or illustrations of even more important persons or events that were, and may still be, future when the particular event recorded took place. This is especially seen of things related to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, His suffering and death and His glory still to come. Since He is the center of the counsels of God and the object of His heart’s affection, such teaching is of prime importance.

The foregoing comments have special reference to the narrative portions of God’s Word. The practical instruction we gain from them is generally quite plain to those of us who read our Bibles. Also, the Holy Spirit opens up to us the riches of God’s wisdom and loving grace, and imparts much instruction directly as such.

Looking at Jethro’s advice to Moses in Exodus 18, we see it was loving, well-meant counsel given by a concerned father-in-law to his son-in-law, and received and acted upon. As such it was human advice, good advice. The Israelites accepted it, and we do not find God saying a word against it as we go on in the account of Israel’s journey through the wilderness. But, we are not made aware of any example where a problem was brought to one who had been set over 10 or 50, or where a case was appealed up the ladder, as it were, and finally brought to Moses’ attention.

In a practical sense it appears that God ignored this new order of things. He had helped and directed and used Moses until this point. God had proved Himself to be sufficient for each need that had arisen, and He continued to be so. The principle was a human one, which we see adopted in large part by many judicial systems today. However, in our American judicial system, the final decision is made on the basis of the Constitution, whereas Jethro told Moses, “Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do” (vv.19-20 NKJV).

Looking at this event briefly from a typical standpoint, we can see why God says nothing negative about this chapter. Once the Lord has taken us Christians to Himself at the rapture, He will take up His dealings with Israel again. They will pass through the awful tribulation. The remnant, which God in Romans 11:26 refers to as “all Israel,” will be saved by the Lord’s return in judgment upon their foes in Revelation 19:11-21. This will be similar to when Israel in Exodus was finally delivered from Egypt by the pursuing Egyptians being drowned in the Red Sea (Ex. 14:27).

The Lord will set up His kingdom among His earthly people, which the prophets have spoken of in many passages. According to Zechariah 14:16-21 and elsewhere, the Gentiles who have come through the tribulation will come to Jerusalem to rejoice in what the Lord has done and will feast with Israel. The parables in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27 show that when the Lord takes His place as King, those servants who have been faithful to Him and have served Him during the present time of His rejection will reign with Him, entering into the joy of their Lord. He will reward them according to their faithfulness. Just, or righteous, rule will be established by Him during the millennium. This is a rough sketch of what Exodus 18 pictures typically for us.

Going back to Israel’s history in the account in the books of Moses, after a stay of approximately one year since Jethro had come to visit Israel, during which time the law was given and the tabernacle was built and set up, Israel was led to journey onward (Num. 10). Their next recorded stop at Taberah (Num. 11:1-3) is not mentioned in the summary of their encampments in the wilderness in Numbers 33. But, the events of their time at Kibroth Hattaavah (v.16), meaning “graves of lust” or “graves of craving,” are detailed in the remainder of chapter 11.

In this place Moses heard the complaining and weeping of the people, which began with the mixed multitude among them. The LORD’s anger was aroused and Moses was displeased. In verses 11-15 He complained that the burden of bearing all these people alone was too heavy for him and he asked the LORD rather to kill him. The LORD had Moses call 70 of the elders and officers of the people to stand with him before the tabernacle. There the LORD took of the Spirit upon Moses and put it on these 70 men, that they might bear the burden with Moses (v.17). All 70 prophesied, even though two of them had remained in the camp and had not come to the tabernacle. When Joshua, Moses’ assistant, wanted Moses to forbid them, Moses refused to do so, with the lovely expression and attitude of “are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” (v.29).

By God’s grace the Spirit of God had empowered Moses up to now. As far as God was concerned this had been sufficient for the tremendous task entrusted to His servant. The officers appointed over the people at Jethro’s suggestion to help Moses had really not relieved him of the burden of his heart for God’s people. God did not give more; He “took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders” (v.25).

Many centuries later the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11 about the many sufferings he had endured in the Lord’s service, up to that point. These were individual items at specific times, but his “deep concern for all the churches” was something that weighed on his heart daily (v.28). This could be shared with assemblies and fellow servants, but it still remained the apostle’s daily concern. Likewise, God could and did give Moses others to share the burden he felt was so heavy, but the responsibility God had given him of leadership did not lessen Moses’ concern for His people. He continued taking his burdens, problems and concerns to the LORD, finding Him sufficient for each need. The LORD was a greater, far better resource than the officers appointed at Jethro’s suggestion in Exodus 18, or the elders endued with the Spirit and given by God in Numbers 11 to help him, or even Aaron who had been given him as a spokesman in Exodus 4:14-17.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear” (Ps. 46:1-2). “Our sufficiency is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5). “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (12:9).

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.