How does Exodus 18:11 connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? Setting the Scene Israel has just crossed the Red Sea, seen Amalek defeated, and now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro arrives. Hearing the full report, he bursts out: “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, for He did this when they acted arrogantly against Israel.” (Exodus 18:11) Only two chapters later, God proclaims the first words of the covenant: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) Key Observations from Exodus 18:11 • Jethro moves from hearsay to personal conviction—“Now I know.” • The LORD’s greatness is measured against “all gods,” exposing them as powerless. • The Exodus events are the proof: Egypt’s deities could not protect their people; the LORD protected His. • This confession comes from a Midianite priest, underscoring that even Gentiles must recognize Yahweh’s supremacy. The First Commandment’s Core • Exclusive loyalty: “no other gods.” • Priority: “before Me” means in My presence, under My gaze—no rival even in the heart. • Foundation for every other command; if He alone is God, His word carries absolute authority. How the Verses Interlock 1. Demonstration precedes declaration. God shows His supremacy (18:11) before He commands exclusive worship (20:3). 2. Jethro’s confession models the expected human response: acknowledge the LORD as “greater than all gods,” then order life under Him alone. 3. The same theme—Yahweh over every false deity—runs through the plagues (Exodus 12:12), Jethro’s words (18:11), and the Sinai command (20:3). 4. By placing 18:11 just before the giving of the Law, Scripture links experience and obedience: what God has done fuels what He now demands. Cemented by the Wider Canon • “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD?” (Exodus 15:11) • “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords.” (Deuteronomy 10:17) • “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:5) • “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but One.” (1 Corinthians 8:4) Living It Out • Expose modern “gods” (wealth, approval, power) to the light of God’s proven greatness. • Recall concrete deliverances God has worked in your life; let them fuel exclusive devotion. • Let every decision pass under the question: Does this place anything “before” Him? • Celebrate testimonies—like Jethro’s—that keep the first commandment alive in community life. |
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