Day 15

Jethro’s Visit

from the Exodus reading plan


Exodus 17:1-16, Exodus 18:1-27, Deuteronomy 17:8-11, Acts 6:1-7

BY Jen Wilkin

The story of Jethro coming to the aid of Moses is an echo of an earlier story. In today’s reading, Moses has been charged with Israel’s care, but the task soon proves to be too much for one person. Observing his solo leadership efforts, Jethro says, “What you’re doing is not good” (Exodus 18:17).

Not good. Jethro’s words echo God’s words in Genesis 2: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). If there is to be orderly ruling and subduing, if there is to be fruitfulness and multiplication as God has decreed, the work cannot be done alone. Just as God provided Eve to be a necessary ally to Adam, He now provides Jethro and the leaders of Israel to be necessary allies to Moses.

Don’t miss this: The concept of self-reliance is wholly foreign to the Christian faith. We are created to need God and others. We are designed for interdependence and community. There is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian. It matters that we understand this as we listen for the echo of our own story in that of Moses.

You and I may not be called to bring orderly rule to a nation, as Moses did, but we are called to submit our hearts to God as He brings orderly rule to our hearts as new creations in Christ. The Bible calls this sanctification. In God’s name, we take dominion over sin. We cultivate the fruit of the Spirit (Acts 6:1–7). Like Moses and Adam, we are called to rule and subdue, to be fruitful and multiply. And like them, it is not good to attempt the good work alone. Nor is it necessary. God has provided necessary allies for us.

First, He has sent His Spirit to comfort and convict. Any effort to grow in holiness apart from the help of the Spirit will teach us, as Jethro says, “The task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone” (Exodus 18:18). But He also sends help in the form of Christian community. He provides us teachers to guide us through the Scripture, mentors to guide us in wisdom, brothers and sisters to encourage us and hold us accountable. 

What sin are you striving to rule in your own strength? The thing is too heavy for you. Ask for the Spirit to train and convict you. Seek the ready help of the family of God. Trade self-reliance for the gift of dependence on the Spirit and interdependence with the saints. “In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure” (Exodus 18:22–23).

Post Comments (39)

39 thoughts on "Jethro’s Visit"

  1. Marilyn Jones says:

    When I read Exodus 18, I thought the meaning is better to share the load then to do it alone.

  2. Kimberly Ziehl says:

    After my dads accident a couple months ago so many people rallied around my family to lift us up in prayer. It was overwhelming in the best way to be honest. Some people would say something short like they were sorry and thinking about us, but others would continue to step up and show up even when the craziness at the beginning wore off. I believe in the word of God, but sometimes I feel like I struggle to really believe that’s it’s true for me too. God loves me as much as anybody else but sometimes I struggle to really feel that and understand it. I pray I too will keep believing and feeling the love God has for me and everybody else who might feel the same way.

  3. Mercy says:

    Today’s reading is so beautiful and the message is so much needed, especially to those who are in leadership to accept help and counsel from others (amen Angie Mills). I see the humility Moses displayed when he took instructions from his father in law. I know many people who will not take well advices from the in-laws, perhaps it is naturally a hard relationship, but here Moses did. What an example! And he even took really well the opening line, “what you’re doing is not good”. I noticed in my church how the pastoral leaders have often rejected help and management advices from other people that God brought, and refused to delegate power to other qualified men to oversee the work to ease their load, which always leads to burn out (amen Michelle Patire to your excellent point). Wisdom is here, there is much safety in the multitude of counsellors -Proverbs 11:14, there is safety when you position yourself among wise advisors, One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm- Proverbs 13:20. There is always risk to the lone ranger leadership, which hints pride/self-reliance. I really love today’s devotional and the insights shared.

    Thank you to our dear sisters who ask for prayers and share their burden so we can have the privilege of upholding your heavy arms like what Aaron and Hur did for Moses.

    Praying for: Angie Mills (for the needed help in your children’s ministry and church overall), Dorothy (for your knee, so happy your camp experience was so lovely), Heidi (this busy season and upcoming seminary), for any unspoken requests and needs to be met by our Merciful God who sees every issue we face. The LORD is the strength of His people, a stronghold of salvation for His anointed- Psalm 28:8.

    Be blessed dear lovely sisters.

  4. Jennifer Loves Jesus says:

    Just jumping in here at the end of a great day to say thank you all for your faithfulness. I am so inspired and encouraged by this community! May you all be blessed and may God show you how pleased he is the way you are following after him. I absolutely love the conversation and insight from each of your shares. Let’s keep opening our Bibles together!

  5. Sky Hilton says:

    In Exodus chapter 17, we see a little bit of ungratefulness from the Israelites. They were mad at Moses and didn’t trust Jesus was there to help them all.

    I often wonder how many times we’ve been so selfish, so ungrateful to God over something so small. Well, of course, I hope that we learn to never be like this ( We have to always remember that God’s timing is PERFECT!). Dearest Father, please erase in us all spirits of ungratefulness. You don’t need to help us, and we don’t deserve your help… but you are a amazing God that helps us anyway!!! Help us to never give up on your plans for us. We are grateful for You Lord

    and you know, we always need God to help us. We can never try to heal ourselves. God is with us always, so why try to do it on your own? And just sit and think about it for a second, isn’t it amazing how the God of the universe wants to help us heal so we can spread the good news of the Kingdom with others? Wow!

    God, we love you. We need you so desperately, every single day. May we look to You always before anyone else, and rely on YOUR strength, and never ours.

    In all things, dearest Father, You are worth being worshipped. Nothing is as great as YOU. Take our rebel hearts and make them yours❤️❤️

  6. Miriam says:

    The story of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms is one of my favorites. It’s such a beautiful picture of the unity we have as believers and the responsibility we have to look out for each other. It reminds me to look for those that may be lonely or discouraged or defeated or worn out and to come alongside them and encourage them, build them up, support them and remind them of the wonderful promises of God. When my dad passed away a few years ago, there were so many believers that did this for me and my family—some in obvious ways and some quietly in the background where we didn’t see or realize until later. But we so appreciated and needed that. And I want to be that “upholder” for others as well!

  7. Cardiff says:

    I so enjoy reading your comments Jennifer Love Jesus!! and I’m loving this Book of Exodus. My favorite study so far!! God bless all of you here!

  8. Dorothy says:

    I’m back from camp. It was a blast. The children were so nice. I hurt my knee twice, to the point for a while I was using a walking stick and it was wrapped. (Yes the nurse needed nursing care, thank goodness there were two nurses at the camp when it happened.) I children looked after me as much as the adults. When I fell the second time three children were right there to help me up, asking “Are you okay nurse Dorothy are you okay?” Such love and Christian community. With the second camp, one of the couples and their son, that was going to help came a day early. In between the camps we went out to eat at a historic restaurant in town, I sat with them. The young boy wanted some of mom’s meal even though he had his own, he had eaten some of it but not enough. I took the rest of his fries and ate them. I’m now his adopted grandma. That whole camp he either hung with his parents or me. I felt honored.

    My Christian community grew so much in the last ten days. I’m so happy I took the time off work and did it. I’m still exhausted but I loved every minute of it.

    Be blessed and look around you for your Christian community.

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