As we read through our Bibles, we sometimes come across curious characters - ones that might leave us scratching our heads and wondering who that person is, why he or she said or did something, and what we're supposed to do with that portion of Scripture.
One such curious character for me is Jethro. For years, every time I came to Exodus 18, I was left with the same question: was Jethro's advice to Moses right? The question was amplified by God's silence on the matter. However, I recently got some light on the issue, so let's take a look at what the Lord has to teach us about the curious character of Jethro.
The Record in the Bible
Jethro first appears in Exodus 4. Moses had fled from Egypt into the wilderness of Midian and married Zipporah, Jethro's daughter. When God commands Moses to return to Egypt, Jehtro does not protest. In fact, in Exodus 4:18 he tells Moses "Go in peace." Later, when Moses leads the people of Israel out of Egypt, Jethro returns. In Exodus 18:8-12 the Bible says:
8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
I think we can all agree that Jethro is not an antagonist for Moses, or for the people of Israel. He seems supportive and even takes the lead with offering worship to God. The difficult part for me is what comes next. In Exodus 18: 13-24 the Bible says:
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
To my ears, that sounds like good advice. Moses was getting worn ragged. I can see it, Jethro could see it, and Moses knew it. So what's the big deal? Why have I never been able to shake my doubts about ol' Jethro's advice to Moses? Here it is in a nutshell:
Every time we listen to the advice of men rather than the counsel of God, we get ourselves into one kind of a mess or another.
But does Scripture teach that in regards to Jethro? After all, God offers no rebuke to Moses or Jethro. Let's break it down.
The Advice of (Good) Men
It's obvious from Exodus 18:8-24 that Jethro was a good, well-intentioned man. And from a human perspective, his advice is sound. He saw the burden Moses bore, and had compassion for him. He saw the needs of the Israelites, and wanted them to be met. And he wanted qualified men to support Moses (Exodus 18:21). Furthermore, Jethro was a priest of some sort, and so he had a spiritual pedigree too. From what better kind of man could Moses get advice?
The Fruit of (Good) Men's Advice
Although God does not endorse Jethro's advice, He does not condemn it either. He seems satisfied to let the situation play out. In fact, based on Hoffman's dates, the situation plays out for about a year - Jethro arrived in Exodus 18 sometime in 1491 BC, and the next we hear of Moses' burden judging the people is in Numbers 11 sometime in 1490 BC. Jethro is long gone, and the people have taken to griping and grousing about their heavenly meal plan. In Numbers 11: 11-15 the Bible says:
11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
What are the implications of this situation? It's quite simple: Jethro's advice did not work. Sure, it may have patched a problem short-term, but in the long-term not only did the issue remain, but it seemed to get worse!
The Counsel of Almighty God
As good as Jethro's intentions may have been, Scripture plainly demonstrates that Moses was to take marching orders from God Himself. Jethro was sincere, but wrong. Back in Exodus 18, Moses did not ask for help from Jethro or from God, but Jethro gave his two-cents anyway. But now in Numbers 11, Moses looks to God to solve his problem. And what does God say? In Numbers 11:16-17 He says:
16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
God knew the burden Moses was carrying. He could see it as plainly as you, me, and Jethro could. But while Jethro wanted qualified men to help Moses, God wanted spirit-filled men.
But there's more to be seen than just that. We should also note that back in Exodus 18:16, Moses says, "When [the Israelites] have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws." That means God's statues and laws were known to some extent prior to the written law. That written law comes about in Exodus 20, shortly after Jethro's advice in Exodus 18. While I have no doubt that it was always God's intention to compose and preserve His word in writing, the timing of this seems all-too appropriate. God started something entirely new with the nation of Israel, something that He wanted to be separated and sanctified from the rest of humanity for His purposes; at the very moment when an outside influence started to take hold of Moses himself, God intervened. It doesn't matter that Jethro was a good man with good intentions. The Lord Almighty would tolerate no extra hands in the pot, so to speak. Israel was His nation, and He would provide all law, all statutes, and all counsel. Period.
The Sum of the Matter
This can be a difficult topic to unravel because Jethro's advice was not bad; in fact, God's counsel one year later was very similar to what Jethro had said. Furthermore, God does not offer any direct commentary on the issue. He does not rebuke Moses; he had a legitimate need, and God was not opposed to Moses having some help. But God wants things done His way, not Jethro's. God will sometimes allow us to taste the sour and ineffective fruit of human solutions to our needs so that we learn to look to Him rather than to ourselves or other people (even "good" people).
A Final Thought
Do you have any Jethro's in your life whose sound advice has been elevated above the counsel of God found in the word of God? It may not be that our "Jethros" are entirely wrong, but God wants us to come to Him and do things His way.
Part of what helped me finally sort through this issue were the notes in the The Common Man's Study Bible (available at this link). A good study Bible can be a tremendous help, but we must be careful not to allow a study Bible to become another Jethro for us. Study notes are a great resource, but they are the notes of a man, not the words of God. When you find something that seems good, take it to God in prayer, praise Him for it, and then seek His counsel on the matter through prayer and searching the Scriptures. Any good study Bible will be thought-provoking, not do your thinking for you; it will encourage and assist you in seeking the authority of Lord rather than trying to be an authority in itself.
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