What is the meaning of Exodus 18:1? Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro • Exodus first introduced Jethro (also called Reuel) when Moses fled to Midian and married Zipporah (Exodus 2:16–22). • By calling him “father-in-law,” Scripture reminds us of the personal, family bond God had formed for Moses during his exile—an anchor that now re-enters the narrative. • This detail highlights God’s providence in every season of Moses’ life, paralleling the way He later weaves ordinary relationships into His redemptive plan (Ruth 2:3; Acts 18:2). The priest of Midian • Jethro served as “the priest of Midian,” signifying spiritual influence among his people (Exodus 3:1). • Though Midianites were not part of Israel, God was already at work beyond Israel’s borders (Genesis 14:18-20; Jonah 4:11). • Jethro’s priesthood underscores that the LORD has always revealed Himself to seekers outside Israel, preparing them to bear witness when they encounter His mighty acts (Acts 10:1-2). Heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel • News of the plagues, the Passover, and the Red Sea crossing spread quickly through the region (Joshua 2:9-10). • Jethro’s “hearing” models how faith is sparked by testimony: “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). • God’s wonders were never meant to remain private; they were—and still are—proclamations of His glory to the nations (Psalm 105:1-2; Isaiah 12:4). And how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt • The exodus was the defining salvation event for Israel, repeatedly cited as proof of God’s faithfulness (Deuteronomy 4:32-34; Nehemiah 9:9-12). • By naming “the LORD” (YHWH) as the one who acted, the verse emphasizes the covenant God personally intervening for His people, a pattern fulfilled ultimately in Christ’s deliverance (Luke 9:31; Colossians 1:13). • Jethro’s response (see Exodus 18:9-11) shows that God’s redemptive acts are intended to draw outsiders into worship and confession of His supremacy. summary Exodus 18:1 records that Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law and priest of Midian, heard about the LORD’s mighty deliverance of Israel. The verse underscores God’s providential use of family ties, His outreach beyond Israel, the power of testimony to spread His fame, and the central place of the exodus in revealing His covenant faithfulness. |
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