Exodus:18

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Verse 1-6 - Jethro came to rejoice with Moses in the happiness of Israel , and to bring his wife and children to him . Moses must have his family with him , that while he ruled the church of God , he might set a good example in family government , 1st Timothy strkjv @3:5 . * Verse 7-12 - Conversation concerning God 's wondrous works is good , and edifies . Jethro not only rejoiced in the honour done to his son-in-law , but in all the goodness done to Israel . Standers-by were more affected with the favours God had showed to Israel , than many were who received them . Jethro gave the glory to Israel 's God . Whatever we have the joy of , God must have the praise . They joined in a sacrifice of thanksgiving . Mutual friendship is sanctified by joint worship . It is very good for relations and friends to join in the spiritual sacrifice of prayer and praise , as those that meet in Christ . This was a temperate feast ; they did eat bread , manna . Jethro must see and taste that bread from heaven , and though a gentile , is welcome : the gentiles are welcomed to Christ the Bread of life . * Verse 13-27 - Here is the great zeal and the toil of Moses as a magistrate . Having been employed to redeem Israel out of the house of bondage , he is a further type of Christ , that he is employed as a lawgiver and a judge among them . If the people were as quarrelsome one with another as they were with God , no doubt Moses had many causes brought before him . This business Moses was called to ; it appears that he did it with great care and kindness . The meanest Israelite was welcome to bring his cause before him . Moses kept to his business from morning to night . Jethro thought it was too much for him to undertake alone ; also it would make the administration of justice tiresome to the people . There may be over-doing even in well-doing . Wisdom is profitable to direct , that we may neither content ourselves with less than our duty , nor task ourselves beyond our strength . Jethro advised Moses to a better plan . Great men should not only study to be useful themselves , but contrive to make others useful . Care must be taken in the choice of the persons admitted into such a trust . They should be men of good sense , that understood business , and that would not be daunted by frowns or clamours , but abhorred the thought of a bribe . Men of piety and religion ; such as fear God , who dare not to do a base thing , though they could do it secretly and securely . The fear of God will best fortify a man against temptations to injustice . Moses did not despise this advice . Those are not wise , who think themselves too wise to be counselled . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

---