Exodus: The Lord and His PilgrimsSample

The people of the book

We have reached a great dividing line in Exodus. The events of both chapters 18 (see v. 5) and 19 (see vv. 1–2) take place at Sinai. The difference between them is that chapter 19 prepares for what follows, while chapter 18 looks back to what has gone before (see v. 8). 

There is another structure to note. In 2:15ff. Moses goes to Jethro; in 18:1ff. Jethro comes to Moses. The passages act like brackets round the whole Exodus event. But there is a huge difference in the two events. Moses fled to Jethro, but he did not become a Midianite; he was still ‘a stranger in a foreign land’ (2:22). Jethro listened to all the Lord had done for his people (18:8) and was converted (vv. 9–10)! Faith comes by hearing (cf. Josh. 2:10–11; Rom. 10:17), and the priest of Midian (18:1) becomes a priest of Israel (v. 12). 

Yet the two halves of chapter 18 balance each other. In verses 1–12 Moses speaks and Jethro listens and learns; in verses 13–27 Jethro speaks and Moses learns. It is wholly understandable that people come to Moses to settle their disputes, and to solve their problems and difficulties; it is equally natural for Moses to see this as part of his leadership role. But the result of such a ‘one-man band’ was that people stood all day waiting for their turn with Moses, and at the day’s end he was worn out! Jethro’s solution is simple and practical: set up a system whereby each group of ten would have a referee, but with ‘higher courts’ dealing with fifties, hundreds and thousands of them, and with Moses as the ultimate court of appeal (vv. 19–23). Jethro insists on two things: first, that the scheme must have the Lord’s approval (v. 23) – it is not to be judged by common sense or practicality, but only by divine authorisation; and secondly, that the purpose of all the courts is to apply the Lord’s statutes and laws, and his ways, truth and life (vv. 20–21) to the Lord’s people. The selected ‘able men’ are to be men of the word of God. The Lord’s redeemed people are to be people of the book – like us! 

Reflection

The word ‘statute’ is related to the verb ‘to engrave’, that is, what is cut into the rock for permanency. ‘Law’ means ‘teachings’. ‘Way’ and ‘walk’ remind us that the Lord speaks so that we can mould our lives by his truth.