Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner[a] in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer[b] (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I,[c] your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 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. 8 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. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”[d] 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. (Exodus 18:1-12)
Moses’ Family Reunion
After God destroyed Pharaoh and Egypt, word began to spread concerning what had happened, and how the slave people had escaped. And after Israel defeated Amalek in the wilderness, you can imagine the news spreading that the people of Israel are also able fighters in battle, especially with their God who fights for them. Word of this news had reached Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, as we see in verse 1. And as it happened, Moses had sent his wife and sons back to his father-in-law at some point along the journey for their protection. Moses had probably sent them back after the LORD nearly put his son to death before he was circumcised back in chapter 4. We are not told when Moses sent his family back, but that would be my guess.
So finally, here in chapter 18, after God delivers the people out of Egypt and through the Red Sea with many great signs and wonders, and after God gives victory to Israel over Amalek, Moses finally reunites with his family, his wife and two sons. So it is that after Moses defeats Amalek by the sign of the cross, as we talked about last week, he receives his bride. And so we see a little shadow of this pattern which is cast from Jesus Christ. After Jesus defeats all of His enemies by the power of the cross, the Word of the cross, He receives His bride.
Jethro, the Priest of Midian
So here in chapter 18, though we are only looking at the first 12 verses today, the whole chapter concerns this interaction with Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. We saw Jethro when Moses fled to the land of Midian back in chapters 2, 3, and 4, where he is also called Reuel. We talked a little bit about him then, but I think it is important to reiterate a few things about him here again.
Jethro is the Priest of Midian. This does not mean that he was a pagan priest. Jethro was a priest of the Most High God. Certainly we see his faith in God in this chapter. It is fascinating to think about the fact that there were priests and worshipers of God outside the line of the promised seed in Old Testament times, and long before Israel became a proper nation with the levitical priesthood. But this is obvious when we think about the fact that God had revealed to Adam and his sons the need for sacrifice. And those instructions were preserved through the flood, through Noah, as Noah makes sacrifice to God after exiting the ark. These things Noah would’ve taught to his sons as they started the world all over again. It is not as if there was no worship of God on the earth until God calls Abram. And it is not as if no one outside of Abram worshiped God – for others had been taught, and remembered, through Noah and his descendents teaching them. So Jethro is a great example of Old Testament faith in God outside of the people of Israel. It also makes sense that Jethro would know the Most High God, since he also was a descendant of Abraham. The Midianites come from Abraham’s son Midian who Abraham had with Keturah in Genesis 25, after Sarah died. So they were outside of the line of the promised seed, but certainly Abraham still would’ve taught them the faith and to worship and serve the one true God.
Now the word that is used here for “priest,” when it says that Jethro was the priest of Midian, is a word that also denotes rulership, or that he was like a prince as well. We could say that Jethro was the priest-king of Midian. A ruler and judge of his tribe as well as a priest to the Most High God. This comes out in this chapter, as Lord willing, we’ll look more at next week, when Jethro gives Moses really good advice on how to best set up a system of judges for the people of Israel. Clearly he has wisdom, knowledge, and experience in governing. But in the first 12 verses, we see Jethro’s priestly side with the sacrifices he offers to God.
So with Jethro as an example of Old Testament faith in God that existed outside of the people of Israel, we have a great reminder of God’s plan for the nations. God’s desire has always been for all the nations, that every tribe, nation, and tongue, would praise Him and know Him. God has His people everywhere, and it is always exciting to discover that God has people in places where we least expected it.
Jethro was also a lot like another Old Testament figure who was also a priest-king of the Most High God who was outside of the line of the promised seed, and that would be Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a really intriguing character of Scripture as he just shows up to bless Abram, Abram tithes to him, and then he appears again in Psalm 110, and then is talked about in Hebrews as a type of Christ. Jethro is a lot like Melchizedek.
We read about Melchizedek in Genesis 14. Genesis 14 is a really fun and interesting story about some battles between ancient kings, and in the midst of the battle, Lot, Abram’s nephew, was captured by a king named Chedorlaomer and those fighting with him, as Lot was living in Sodom before it was destroyed, and Sodom was involved in this battle. So Abram goes to rescue Lot, and in doing so he slays this great king Chedorlaomer. After this victory is when Melchizedek comes out to meet with Abram, Melchizedek being the king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Likewise, it is after Moses defeats Amalek, that Jethro comes out to meet him and offer congratulations. Melchizedek brings out bread and wine to Abram, and likewise, Moses, Aaron, and the elders eat bread with Jethro. Melchizedek blesses Abram and blesses God for the victory, likewise Jethro blesses the Lord for His deliverance of Israel. Abram shows honor to Melchizedek, giving a tenth of everything to him, likewise, Moses shows honor to Jethro, bowing before him and kissing him. So certainly our attention is drawn to the parallel between these two accounts as they share the same pattern: a victory in battle followed by a meal, blessing, and praise of God with an honorable priest-king of the Most High God.
Now Hebrews 7 talks about Jesus being a priest after the order of Melchizedek since neither were Levitical priests which was priesthood by physical descent. Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek in that He is a priest forever, His priesthood continues based upon the power of His indestructible life, not based upon Levitical requirements, which are no more.
Now, I don’t think I want to talk about Jethro in the same way that Hebrews 7 talks about Melchizedek. Melchizedek certainly has a unique place in the history of redemption and in his typology of Christ. Some people even think that Melchizedek was Jesus, but I would disagree with that.
Nevertheless, there is a clear parallel between Jethro and Melchizedek, Melchizedek being a proper type of Christ, discussed at length in Hebrews 7. So at the very least, if nothing else, Jesus is also a greater Jethro, in the sense that Jethro was a non-levitical priest who made sacrifices to God. Jesus was not after the order of Jethro or from his line, but He was a priest-king from the tribe of Judah who made sacrifice to God, in offering Himself in sacrifice to God for sins, the ultimately blessing upon His people. Jesus continues to bless His people not only through His sacrifice being applied to them, but in a meal of bread and wine, as we eat it in His presence.
Yahweh, Greater than all gods
Now, you might ask, how can we say that Jethro was a priest of the one true God if he says in verse 11, “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods…”? Is this not a first time profession of faith, “NOW I know…”? Well, I would say that this is not a first time profession of faith, and the language does not require it to be like some new discovery or belief. Jethro is basically saying, “Now I have actually seen in real time and history God’s power displayed over all gods,” as Yahweh judged and defeated the gods of Egypt and such. We also see Jethro’s faith earlier in Exodus when he blesses Moses to return to Egypt after God appears to Moses in the burning bush. We also should assume the best of Moses that he wouldn’t have married into a pagan priest’s family. And then of course Jethro makes sacrifices to God here in chapter 18, showing that he already knew how to worship God.
But what Jethro says here in verse 11 is truly amazing. He testifies to the fact that Yahweh is greater and has displayed His power over all gods. Obviously in context he is speaking in light of God’s deliverance of Israel out of Egypt and defeating the Egyptians. But the testimony of Jethro here basically shows us what everyone at that time would’ve recognized, which is harder for us modern readers to recognize. And that is that when God judged and defeated Egypt, He was not simply judging sinful people, although He certainly was. But God was also judging other rebellious and evil beings, namely the “gods” of Egypt. These of course not other actual deities, as there is only one God, but these were created beings, rebellious and fallen angelic beings, spiritual forces of darkness who wielded power with the Egyptians. As we went through the plagues of Egypt, I mentioned how each plague was a judgment that corresponded to one of the gods of Egypt. They had a god of the Nile, God struck the Nile with blood. They worshiped the sun, God made it go black. Same for each of the plagues. This was the Egyptian worldview, and the worldview of the ancient world and the ancient people’s, and Jethro’s testimony shows us what every ancient observer would have recognized – this Hebrew God is far more powerful than all the gods of Egypt. Thus, you can either believe and worship God like Jethro, or you can harden your heart and rebel. And what a great testimony this was to the Israelites, “don’t be afraid, look how much more powerful and great Yahweh is, than any other!” Some Israelites believed, others hardened their hearts.
It is really cringeworthy when modern people try to revive the adoration of Egyptian gods or old Norse gods, or other pagan practices, for God defeated them in history, and all principalities and powers were defeated definitely by Jesus at the cross.
Communion Meal
So then in verse 12 Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel come to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law; and what is really interesting is that it says they came to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. Jethro brought a burnt sacrifice and offerings to God, then Aaron and the elders came to eat bread with him before God – in other words – in the presence of God. So what do we have here but a fellowship meal of communion with God, in His presence? Obviously God was always with His people, but there was a particular order and structure to being near or in the presence of God. We see this especially in the structure of the tabernacle. In verse 5 we see that they are encamped at the mountain of God. So this particularly highlights God’s presence where they are at. This would’ve been around the same area that the Angel of the LORD first came to Moses in the burning bush. So Jethro, the priest, brings sacrifice and offering to God, Aaron and the others come with him to eat bread before the Lord. It’s possible Aaron was taught some priestly things from Jethro, and the elders also learned from him during this meal. So here we see a pattern of the priest going before the people to God, and through the priest we come. Of course for us, Jesus is our priest. He has gone before us to God, offering Himself as sacrifice to God, and we go with Him.
It is interesting, Calvin says that the bread they ate together was manna. Certainly this is very possible being that this was their bread during their time in the wilderness. If this is the case, their eating in the presence of God becomes an even clearer picture, as we talked about Jesus being the true manna, the true bread from heaven, and as 1 Corinthians 10 says that Israel in the wilderness ate the true spiritual food, which was Christ. But whether this was Manna or some other bread, we see a pattern of the Lord’s Supper, that when we partake of the bread together – which is our meal after Christ offered Himself as sacrifice to God, and our meal after we have that sacrifice personally applied to us in our lives by the Holy Spirit – we eat it together in the presence of God. Our priest has gone before us, we are in union with Him, and so God is with us.
Application
There are a couple other themes or larger principles that we see in this reunion of Moses and Jethro that I would like to end by observing and considering them in light of our own lives and the redemption of Christ. Verse 1, Jethro, “heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.” Then verse 8, “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. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the and of the Egyptians.’”
What did Moses share with Jethro? Not simply the amazing signs and wonders of God, but all of the hardships that had come upon them in the way. I’m sure Moses shared much of his struggles in leading the people with the difficulty of their unbelief which made it hard on Moses. And certainly the lack of water, the lack of food, and the lack of water again, and then facing the Amalekites in battle. What hardships these were for Moses and the people! These were not easy things. And it was these many hardships, and God’s faithfulness through them all which brought Jethro to rejoice and bless the LORD. You see, God brings us through hardships, suffering, and difficulties for the blessing and benefit of others! One of the purposes of our own hardships as Christians is to increase the joy of others in God, and to increase their hope, and strengthen their faith. All the more hardships Moses and Israel endured, led to all the more rejoicing in Jethro for what God had done for His people. This is one of the very things that Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians chapter 1.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.[a] 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[b] of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:3-11)
Your hardship is a testimony and benefit to the faith of others. Our hardships are meant to increase the joy of others in God. We know that God uses our own hardships and trials for our own benefit, to sanctify us, to increase our faith, endurance, and joy; but God also uses our own hardships for the sanctification of others. And then, so often, when we hear of the increased joy of others at what God has done for us in our trials, that in turn increases our own joy all the more.
What is it in your own life that God has brought you through? What hardships have you seen God’s faithfulness through? And then, what people in your life have been blessed and praised God in hearing of His faithfulness to you through them? Certainly we all have the story of our own redemption, how Christ saved us from our sin, and made us alive and into new creatures and changed us from sinners to saints. Maybe it is God’s saving you through a faithful family and Christian upbringing. Maybe God saved you out of a particular lifestyle of sin and debauchery. Don’t all Christians love to hear the testimony of other Christians and how God has saved them? Aren’t you encouraged by the testimony of other believers? And then as we endure hardships as believers, what is it that God has used in your life to encourage others? Aren’t we all encouraged at hearing such stories in other believers? Maybe you had a wayward child that returned, and came home to Christ. Maybe you had a marriage in shambles that God restored and brought you through. Maybe you had a particular sin that God delivered you from. Maybe you had a sickness, disease, or serious injury, or loss that God was faithful through. What encouragement that is meant to be to the saints.
Just a couple years ago I made acquaintance with a fellow believer who is a member of an RPCNA church near Kansas City, whose young daughter and her husband lost their new born baby. This man shared the video of the funeral service with me, and oh how it encouraged my faith so much, to see the faithful endurance of this family, the godly preaching, and the Psalm-singing of those in attendance at the funeral. A few months later I was able to meet the young couple, and I hope I encouraged them as they did me. I know that many of you had a similar experience with the family that lost their daughter last year that many of us know. Do not forget that our hardships are meant to increase the faith of others. So may we never hesitate to share one another’s burdens. God means that we do.
Second, related to this, God’s redemption and deliverance of His people is also a means for others to rejoice and praise God. Whether it is deliverance from sin and the kingdom of darkness, or providential deliverances in the life of the believer, it is meant to also bring about God’s praise among others who witness it or hear of it. Jethro was pleased to hear of all that God had done for Israel. Likewise, we rejoice to see what God has one for Israel, and that is to say in its fullest meaning, that with Jethro, we rejoice to see all that God has done for His Church. This is why we are to tell of all that God has done for us and all that God has done for His Church to others, to our children, and their children. This is why we are to continue to tell of what God did for Israel, in delivering them out of Egypt. It is a great encouragement to my faith to read and study all that God did for Moses, and it ought to be to you as well if you love Christ and His Church. This is one reason why Church History and it’s being taught is important, for we hear of all the things that God has done for Israel, for His Church, in preserving her, delivering her, redeeming her, giving her successes, striking down heresies about her, and faithfully keeping her through hard times – we must continue to tell and tell to all what God has done for Israel. As it says in Psalm 126, “When Zion’s fortunes God restored, it seemed as if a dream. Our mouths were then with laughter filled, our tongues with shouts of glee. The nations said, ‘The LORD has done great things for Israel.’ The LORD did mighty things for us, our hearts with gladness swell.”
God’s redemption of Israel, God’s redemption of His Church, is a means to bring about faith among the nations – to bring about praise, thanksgiving, and rejoicing among the nations.
Finally, not only this, but God’s redemption and deliverance of His people is a means to bring about eating and feasting in others. God has redeemed us through Christ by the power of the cross, and so the result is that we come to the Lord’s table to eat. Because of God’s deliverance and redemption in us, and in others, in our Church around us – because God has delivered and redeemed them – we eat bread together, with wine.
It was a practice that early medieval kings of old – I think of a great Christian King like Alfred the Great – when they had victory in battle, they would sit down in the mead hall with their warriors and celebrate with great feasting, laughter, stories, and singing. And for King Alfred of the Saxons, a faithful Christian man, praising God for His deliverance of them from the hands of the evil viking raiders in their day.
I believe this is a small historical shadow of a greater reality we have in Christ. Christ has delivered His people from the strong arm of Satan and disarmed all principalities and powers to redeem His people, and He joins us, or we are brought into His presence, to a celebration feast with rejoicing and eating. And this, but a small foretaste of that day when we sit at the table of our victorious Christ in the consummation to eat and drink with great rejoicing and gladness for all that God has done for Israel. And on that day, oh how all our hardships will then surely be a means for our increased joy, and all the redeemed with us in glory. May God be praised for delivering His people, and long live the King!
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