What is the meaning of Exodus 18:17? But Exodus 18:17 opens with a tiny word that signals a turning point: “But.” In the flow of the narrative, Moses has just explained how he sits “from morning till evening” to settle every dispute (Exodus 18:13-16). • The conjunction alerts us that a corrective is coming, much like the pivot in 2 Samuel 12:7 when Nathan confronts David, or in Acts 9:15 where God redirects Ananias’s objections. • Scripture repeatedly uses contrast to highlight divine wisdom over human habit (Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 55:8-9). Here, the contrast prepares us for wise counsel that will spare Moses and bless Israel. Moses’ father-in-law The counselor is Jethro, a Midianite priest who has already “heard all that God had done for Moses” (Exodus 18:1). • Family members can be instruments of God’s instruction (Genesis 24:50; 2 Timothy 1:5). • Jethro’s title reminds us he speaks from loving concern, not mere criticism—a pattern echoed when Naomi guides Ruth (Ruth 2:22) and when Paul calls Timothy “my true son” (1 Timothy 1:2). • His outside perspective equips him to see what Moses, immersed in work, cannot—an example of Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” said to him Jethro addresses Moses directly and privately before public implementation. • Scripture commends personal confrontation done in humility (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15). • The phrase underscores relationship: correction travels best over the bridge of trust (Proverbs 27:6; Ephesians 4:15). • Moses listens—an act of meekness consistent with Numbers 12:3 and James 1:19. What you are doing The focus shifts from Moses’ character to his method. • The job description—judging every case—was never mandated by God. Like Elijah in 1 Kings 19:10, Moses has drifted into solitary overwork. • Numbers 11:14 records Moses later confessing, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me,” confirming Jethro’s appraisal. • The phrase reminds us that even faithful leaders can adopt unsustainable practices, necessitating periodic review (Acts 6:1-4). is not good Jethro’s verdict is blunt but redemptive: “What you are doing is not good.” • The wording echoes God’s first “not good” in Genesis 2:18—“It is not good for the man to be alone.” Both passages highlight the need for shared labor and companionship. • Overextension threatens both leader and people (Exodus 18:18), a principle reinforced in Proverbs 3:7-8 and Matthew 11:28-30. • Jethro’s standard is God’s goodness; anything that undermines God-given rest and order must be reshaped. The subsequent delegation to “capable, God-fearing men” (Exodus 18:21) mirrors later structures of shared oversight in Deuteronomy 1:9-15 and Acts 14:23. summary Exodus 18:17 captures a loving, course-correcting moment. The contrast “But” signals needed change; “Moses’ father-in-law” shows God often speaks through trusted relationships; “said to him” models direct, gracious confrontation; “What you are doing” targets methods, not motives; and “is not good” measures work against God’s standard of wholesome, shared responsibility. The verse urges every servant of God to welcome wise counsel, embrace delegation, and pursue practices that reflect the goodness and order our Lord desires for His people. |
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