This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available for $7.50.

EXODUS
CHAPTER 18
1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; 2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, 3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: 4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: 5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: 6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

Here we find a number of little known facts about Moses that one might normally
miss. Ex. 4:20 told us Moses saddled a donkey, put his wife and sons no it and left
for Egypt to do as God said.
The story in Ex. 4 also tells us Moses was about to die because he had not circumcised
his son. Since he probably had not done that due to Zipporah's objections, she had to
perform the circumcision herself. Now here, our text says (in vs 2) that Moses sent
his family back to Jethro.
Moses had already seen fierce opposition to his mission because of his family.
Probably after the circumcision incident, he sent Zipporah and the sons home to Jethro.
Moses' sons names are Gershon and Eliezar.
Now Jethro brings Moses' family, and it has probably been a few months since he has
seen them. Though sometimes in our ministry, we must be without our family, God
provides the time to be together when it is appropriate in His plan.

7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

After Moses tells Jethro of all the things God did to Egypt and Pharoah, Jethro
praises God. Remember, Jethro is "the priest of Midian." He is a very influential
and wise man of God.
Jethro also offered a burnt offering to God and other sacrifices.
This may shed some light on Zipporah's hesitancy to let her sons be circumcised.
She was reared by a very religious and godly man. She could see no NEED
for this type of thing.

13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Since Moses had been separated from his family quite some time, you'd think he'd spend
some time with them. But the next morning he goes right back to his work.
He is the "judge" for Israel. Jethro sees Moses' work as "not good" (vs 17).
He says Moses cannot perform this task alone (vs 18). This will eventually
wear Moses down. Not only that, but it is not good for the people, because Moses alone
cannot meet their needs, and they had to wait until he was available.
Here is a great business principle that has been used for centuries.
It is called the delineation of tasks, or the distribution of authority.
Effectiveness and productivity are increased when large tasks are broken down to
smaller ones and more people are involved in the work.

19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

And this is another business principle - one supervisor for ten people.
When one person supervises more than ten, he is spread too thin and becomes less
effective. When one supervises less than ten, he could do more.
This principle is applied here in our text spiritually, and is the source
for the business principle that was later used physically.
Note that first the counselors should be trained. One cannot
give sound, spiritual advice and guidelines unless he is first well-grounded in
application of God's truths.
But when a person grows in "grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ..." (2Pet. 3:18), then he should share in the ministry.
This is one of the reasons we have a Deacon Family Ministry Program in our church.
The pastor cannot physically minister to all the families of the church
effectively. He needs help.

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Having received the wisdom, Moses put it into practice. It WORKED!
Having imparted this wisdom, Jethro returns home.
We must each minister according to his calling from God.

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.