18. ADVICE OF JETHROW TO MOSES
Last time we looked at the way Moses gained a victory over his enemies. If you follow his example, you too will gain the victory of bitterness and selfishness.
Let’s continue this amazing story:
Exodus 17:14-16 And the LORD said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD has sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Write.
This is the first mention in the Sacred Record of writing. Until recently it was not known how this was done and what kind of script was employed.
The fact that alphabetic writing existed in the time of Moses was discovered about the time of the first world war.
Previously, it had been known only that alphabetic script was used by the various peoples of Palestine, particularly the Phoenicians, in the first millennium B.C., and that European alphabets had developed, through the intermediate stages of Greek and Latin, from that original Phoenician script.
The first alphabetic form of writing was invented at Ugarit and Sinai.
In 1916 Dr. Alan Gardiner published his first attempt to decipher inscriptions found some ten years earlier by Sir Flinders Petrie which the Egyptian copper mines of the Wadi Magâra on Sinai.
Subsequent expeditions have increased the number of inscriptions from that place, and the combined labor of a number of outstanding linguists has succeeded in deciphering this previously unknown script.
These inscriptions reveal the astonishing fact that they constitute the earliest attempts at composing a Semitic script, which consisted of about 25 characters.
The inventors of this alphabet were probably Canaanites who worked for the Egyptians in mines in Sinai. They may have had no written language of their own, but had become acquainted with the hieroglyphic system of writing used for centuries in Egypt.
The invention of alphabetic writing shortly before the Exodus was as much a providential gift of God as the invention of printing by movable type shortly before the Reformation.
The Bible could never have become the “book of the people” if it had been necessary to write it in the complicated hieroglyphic or cuneiform systems which preceded the invention of alphabetic script.
With this new script, with which Moses had probably become acquainted during his long sojourn in Sinai, it was easy to write the story of God’s dealings with His people and the various legal regulations found in the Pentateuch as well. It was also easy to learn to read such writing.
By no mere accident the Hebrew Scriptures constitute the oldest and most complete historical record of the human race and of God’s attempts to rescue man from the kingdom of Satan.
In a book. The “book” in which Moses wrote the story of Amalek’s attack and defeat probably consisted of a papyrus scroll, the most common Egyptian writing material. This ancestor of paper was made from fibers of the stem of the papyrus plant, then found in swamps of the Nile Delta.
Papyrus sheets were made by first placing a layer of soaked fibers one way, and on top of it another layer the other way. The layers were then glued together, pressed and dried, and smoothed by rubbing the sheets with a pumice stone.
Finally, several sheets were fastened together to form a roll of an average height of 9 or 10 in. and a length of from 10 to 30 ft. Such a scroll would be long enough to contain any of the five books of the Pentateuch.
From the remark made in Num. 33:2 it is evident that Moses kept a diary of Israel’s journey through the wilderness, which formed the basis of the list of Numbers 33 and of the historical narrative he has left us.
Moses probably acquired the habit of keeping a diary during the first 40 years of his life at the Egyptian court, for we know from the records of Thutmose III, probably a contemporary of Moses, that all events connected with military campaigns were “recorded on [each] day by its name,” and that after the completion of a campaign these field notes were transferred to “a roll of leather in the temple of Amon” (cf. PP 245).
It would therefore not have seemed strange to Moses to receive instructions to record the treacherous attack and defeat of Amalek for future reference as a “memorial.”
Rehearse it in the ears of Joshua
These words show that Joshua had already been selected by God to succeed Moses.
I will utterly put out.
The destruction of this branch of the Edomite nation was decreed, whereas the rest of the Edomites enjoyed divine protection (see Deut. 2:4, 5). Why this seeming discrepancy?
The Amalekites had brutally attacked God’s people, showing no compassion even for their own kindred (Deut. 25:18).
This attack, wholly unprovoked, revealed their hatred and defiance of God and sealed their doom as a nation (PP 300).
Moses built an altar. The building of an altar implies the offering of a sacrifice. Inasmuch as the sacrifice was offered in celebration of victory, it must have been a thank offering.
How often do you build altars of thanks giving for the victories that God wrought in your lives?
Jehovah-nissi.
In naming the altar, Moses followed the example of Jacob, who had called one of his altars El-elohe-Israel (Gen. 33:20). The name of Moses’ altar meant “the Lord is my banner” and was intended to glorify God for victory over the Amalekites.
“The rod of God” (Ex. 17:9) had been held up by Moses during the battle as soldiers hold up their standards, and as soldiers follow the standard, Israel had followed the directions of God. Thus, the Lord became their standard.
Can archaeology come in at this point and tell us more of standards?
While in Egypt the Israelites had frequently seen the military standards of the Egyptian armies. They desplayed pictorial representations of their gods Amun, Ra, Ptah, Sutekh, and others, after whom their divisions were named.
Giving the name “the Lord is my standard” to this altar, Moses used familiar language and at the same time called attention to the fact that the standard of the Lord was more powerful than the emblems of the Amalekites. The name “Jehovah-nissi” stands for holy boldness.
CHAPTER 18
At this point in the narrative of Moses, we are introduced to his father in law.
Exodus 18:1-9 And Jethro, the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, his people, that Yahweh had brought Israel out from Egypt. And Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, took Zipporah the wife of Moses after her sending away, 3. and her two sons—the one whose name was Gershom, for he had said, “I have been an alien in a foreign land,” 4. and the one whose name was Eliezer, for “the God of my father was my help, and he delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 5. And Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came and his sons and his wife to Moses, to the desert where he was camping there at the Mountain of God. 6. And he said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you and your wife and her two sons with her.” 7. And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed, and he kissed him, and they each asked about the other’s welfare, and they came into the tent. 8. And Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt on account of Israel, all the hardship that had found them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them. 9. And Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Yahweh had done for Israel when he delivered them from the hand of Egypt
What a reunion! Can you imagine the tears of joy this family embraced one another?
Not far distant from where the Israelites were now encamped was the home of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Jethro had heard of the deliverance of the Hebrews, and he now set out to visit them, and restore to Moses his wife and two sons.
The great leader was informed by messengers of their approach, and he went out with joy to meet them, and, the first greetings over, conducted them to his tent.
He had sent back his family when on his way to the perils of leading Israel from Egypt, but now he could again enjoy the relief and comfort of their society.
To Jethro he recounted the wonderful dealings of God with Israel, and the patriarch rejoiced and blessed the Lord, and with Moses and the elders he united in offering sacrifice and holding a solemn feast in commemoration of God’s mercy. {PP 300.2}
Ancient Bible characters gave their children names that had specific meanings.
Eliezer the second means “my God is [my] help.” Would you like to guess the meaning of Gershom, the first born?
“Banishment” (ch. 2:22). What does it reflect? A spirit of despondency natural to an exile.
The name of the second son revealed the father’s gratitude for the divine protection enjoyed during his flight from Egypt.
From 1 Chronicles 23:17 we learn that Eliezer had but one son, Rehabiah, whose descendants had become numerous in the time of Solomon.
The mount of God.
The “mount of God,” where Jethro found Moses was Horeb (ch. 3:1). It had been in its neighborhood that God appeared to Moses in the fiery bush. It was near here also that Moses had smitten the rock and given water to his thirsty people (ch. 17:6).
And he said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you and your wife and her two sons with her.”
How did Moses respond when he learn that his in-laws are coming? How do we respond?
Verse 7. And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed, and he kissed him, and they each asked about the other’s welfare, and they came into the tent
Oriental courtesy required such conduct in case of an honored, or even a welcome, visitor (see Gen. 18:2; 19:1; Luke 15:20; etc.).
It was evidently Moses’ intention to receive Jethro with all possible honor and respect. He not only went out to meet him but bowed before him as before a superior.
What do you think was the theme of the conversation?
Verse 8. And Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt on account of Israel, all the hardship that had found them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them.
To Jethro he recounted the wonderful dealings of God with Israel, and the patriarch rejoiced and blessed the Lord, and with Moses and the elders he united in offering sacrifice and holding a solemn feast in commemoration of God’s mercy. {PP 300.2}
How do we respond when we relate our past history?
How long did Moses take off from work?
Verses 13,14 And the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. And the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he was doing for the people, and he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone and all the people are standing by you from morning until evening?”
In ancient times a ruler, whether king, prince, or chieftain, also exercised the office of judge. Legislative, executive, and judicial powers were all vested in one individual.
For several centuries preceding the monarchy the leaders of Israel were called “judges,” and their administration was referred to as “judgment.”
Like these successors of Moses, the chief rulers of Carthage also bore the title of “judges.”
Since the time when he was accepted as leader by the people (ch. 4:29–31), Moses, it appears, regarded himself as obligated to hear and decide all complaints that arose among his people.
Thus far he had not delegated judicial authority to anyone else. This cannot have been because the idea had not occurred to him, for in Egypt a judicial system existed, with judges appointed by the king.
It may be that he doubted the ability of his countrymen, who had been slaves all their lives, to serve in such a capacity.
Listen to his reply:
Verses 15,16 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek God.
When they have an issue, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbour, and I make known God’s rule and his instructions.”
Did the old man congratulate him for his brilliant work?
Verses 17,18 And the father-in-law of Moses said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.
Surely you will wear out, both you and this people who are with you, because the thing is too difficult for you. You are not able to do it alone.
Have you ever been advised by your in-laws as to the way should operate?
Verses 19-23 Now listen to my voice; I will advise you, and may God be with you. You be for the people before God, and you bring the issues to God.
And you warn them of the rules and the instructions, and you make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do.
And you will select from all the people men of ability, fearers of God, trustworthy men, haters of dishonest gain, and you will appoint such men over them as commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, and commanders of tens.
And let them judge the people all the time, and every major issue they will bring to you, and every minor issue they will judge themselves. And so lighten it for yourself, and they will bear it with you.
If you will do this thing and God will command you, then you will be able to endure, and also each of the people will go to his home in peace.”
And Moses said to the old man: “Thank you so much. But I know what I am doing. Please do not interfere with me. I have a PhD in administration.”
Verses 24-27 And Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and he did all that he had said.
And Moses chose men of ability from all Israel, and he appointed them as heads over the people, as commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, and commanders of tens.
And they judged the people all the time; the difficult issues they would bring to Moses, and every minor issue they would judge themselves.
And Moses let his father-in-law go, and he went to his land.
Am I prepared to take advice from someone a little lower than myself?
Am I prepared to lose power instead of become a control freak?
After the break we will be travelling to Mount Sinai. It was here that the voice of God was heard for the first time. It was here that God spoke His law and wrote it with His finger on tables of stone.