The LORD is greater than all gods

Introduction

In studying the book of Exodus it is possible to break up the book into 2 broad parts: The Exodus from Egypt (1 - 18) and the Law and Proper Worship (19 - 40). In light of the overall theme of the book, to make Yahweh known throughout the earth, the two parts of Exodus involves Yahweh making Himself in two ways. The first way was through the judgment of Egypt and salvation of Israel. The second is in the giving of His law to Israel, along with instructions for proper worship. We are at the end of the first part and are about to transition into the second part. At the end and in between we have chapter 18.

Background

Exodus 18 is different the rest of the material that has preceded it. There is no testing involved in the two events described here. There is no immediate danger facing Israel. The nation is stationary at the moment. This chapter makes a turning point in the narrative. The next 6 chapters detail to giving and ratifying of the Sinai covenant between Yawheh and Israel. Yahweh will be made known in a new and awesome way. For now we have celebration of the Yahweh’s mighty power and next week, a lesson on leadership.

Exposition

Verse 1: Remember the purpose of God in waging war against Egypt, the purpose of Exodus in general. It was to demonstrate His power and make His name known in the earth. It was so the nations would know the one true living God. In our text here there is evidence that this is already occurring. Moses tells us specifically that Jethro, priest of Midian, heard of what the LORD has done. The decimation of Egypt was already making news in the surrounding territories and certainly the defeat of the Amalekites would have made some waves.[1] The giving of the law, which we will start studying in a few weeks, will further this purpose by educating Israel on the statues and character of God. They can’t be a kingdom of priests unto Yahweh if they don’t who he is and how to please Him.

Verses 2 - 6: We can surmise from Ex 4:18-26 that while Moses’s wife and children initially travelled with Moses toward Egypt, they turned back before Moses and Aaron actually entered Egypt. Now that Moses is out of Egypt away from danger, it is safe for his wife and children to return to him. The promised inheritance is for them as well. We are reminded of the names of his sons, highlighting both how Moses (and Israel )dwelt in a land not his (theirs) and was kept from death at the hand of Pharaoh.[2] Jethro sends a messenger to Moses to inform him he is coming.

Verses 7 - 8: Moses greets his father-in-law and they fellowship. Moses makes sure his father-in-law is well before giving testimony of the awesome power of God in the leveling of Egypt and deliverance of Israel. Moses is careful not to sugarcoat or paint a rosy picture of their experiences. He likely began with how the people believed, moved on the the encounters with Pharaoh, the red sea miracle, their wilderness travails, and Yahweh faithfulness (basically everything from Ex. 4:27-17:16).[3] Notice also how Moses takes no credit nor assigns any to Israel as a whole. The LORD acted before Israel had the thought of anyone coming to their aid. Their salvation and continued preservation was / is the work of Yawheh and He alone is to receive the glory from this. This has direct application to modern evangelism. Moses doesn’t pretend that Yahweh’s acts on Israel’s behalf and His leading of His people meant a carefree victorious life. There were and would continue to be real struggles, battles with sin, high and low points. It is incumbent upon believers today to give the full gospel, which includes our great need and Christ’s greater sufficiency and love to save sinners. We must also make plain that the Christian walk will have both joy and struggles and that there will be perilous times. This makes the truth of Christ’s ever present care and the Spirit indwelling truly great news. To do anything else (or less) is God dishonoring and unfair to the unbeliever because it creates false expectations. Moses didn’t do that. Let us follow his example. What about Moses’s family?

This is also the last mention of Moses’s family in scripture. The reason(s) why are unknown to us. I would surmise that Moses’s purpose in excluding them was not due to any malice and family strife, but rather due to the reality that his focus is God’s salvation of Israel, its wilderness history, and giving of the law. Significant individuals whom impact that history are mentioned in relation to their words and deeds and Yahweh’s response.

Verses 9 - 12: Jethro is overjoyed at the work of Yahweh for His people. So moved is he from having the good news that he breaks out in worship and praise to the one true God of Israel. He is converted, and is an example of two things: 1 - All the nations of the earth will be blessed through the seed of Abraham, and 2 - acknowledgment outside Israel that the GOD of Israel alone is the LORD. Notice it is the witness of Yahweh’s mighty acts that produce the fruit of worship in Jethro. Likewise, it is the spirit enabled and empowered giving of the gospel is this the means of producing repentance, submission, and worship to the LORD of heaven and earth. Our testimonies concerning answered prayers or individual conversion stories are good, but it is the telling of who the LORD is and what He is done that leads men to declare there is none like the Yahweh in the earth. This is what we are seeing in Jethro. The LORD of Israel has wrought a great deliverance in the earth by bringing Israel out of bondage and showed the gods of Egypt to be nothing. So moved in Jethro that he offers burnt offering and sacrifice to Yahweh of which Moses and the Elders partake.

Bibliography

1. Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 403). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

2. Philip Graham Ryken, Exodus: Saved for God's Glory, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 470.

3. Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, pp. 410–411). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

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