Commentary - Exodus 18:24-27

Bird's-eye view

In this brief but potent section of Exodus, we witness a foundational moment in the civil and judicial life of Israel. Having been delivered from the iron furnace of Egypt, and having been sustained by God's miraculous provision in the wilderness, the people of God must now learn how to live together under God. The counsel of Jethro, a Midianite priest, provides the framework for this new stage of their existence. This is not simply a story about efficient management techniques. It is a story about godly order, the delegation of authority under God, and the humility of a great leader. Moses, the man who spoke with God face to face, demonstrates his wisdom not by inventing a system from scratch, but by receiving sound counsel, even from an outsider. This passage sets the stage for the giving of the law at Sinai, showing that the law is not given to a chaotic mob, but to a people being structured and ordered for holy service.

What we have here is the establishment of a principled legal structure, a form of decentralized government where justice is accessible to the common man. The principles laid out are timeless: leadership must be characterized by ability and godly fear, minor disputes should be handled at the lowest possible level, and the highest court should be reserved for the most difficult cases. This is a divine pattern for godly society, one that protects against the twin tyrannies of anarchy and centralized despotism. It is a lesson in sanctified common sense, a practical outworking of what it means to love God and neighbor in the nitty gritty of daily disputes.

Outline

Context In Exodus

This passage comes at a crucial juncture. Israel has left Egypt behind (Ex. 1-14), they have triumphed over Amalek (Ex. 17), and they are now encamped at the mountain of God (Ex. 18:5). The reunion of Moses with his family and his father-in-law, Jethro, provides the setting for this episode. Jethro has heard all that Yahweh has done for Israel, and he rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifices (Ex. 18:1-12). It is in this context of worship and fellowship that Jethro observes Moses' exhausting method of judging the people from morning till night (Ex. 18:13-18). His counsel is not that of a secular management consultant; it is offered by a man who has just acknowledged the supremacy of Yahweh. The implementation of this counsel is the immediate prelude to the main event of the book of Exodus: the giving of the Covenant at Mount Sinai in chapter 20. God is not just saving individuals; He is forming a nation, a holy commonwealth, and that requires structure, law, and order.

Verse by Verse Commentary

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

The first thing to note here is the magnificent humility of Moses. This is the man who stood before Pharaoh, the man through whom God parted the Red Sea, the man who will shortly ascend the mountain to receive the very words of God engraved in stone. And yet, he listened to the voice of his father-in-law. He hearkened. True strength is not found in a bull-headed refusal to take advice. It is found in the wisdom to recognize sound counsel, regardless of the source. Jethro was a priest of Midian, not an Israelite, but his advice was wise, practical, and consistent with godly principles. Moses did not suffer from the insecurity that plagues lesser men, the kind of insecurity that insists on being the sole fount of all good ideas. He was God's man, and because he was secure in that, he could receive wisdom from his father-in-law.

And he didn't just listen; he did all that he had said. This is obedience in action. He didn't form a committee to study the feasibility of Jethro's suggestions. He didn't take the advice under advisement and then let it die a slow death. He recognized the wisdom in it and implemented it fully. This is a model for all leadership in the church and in the home. A man who cannot be told anything is a man who is a danger to himself and to everyone under his authority. Moses shows us that true authority is exercised under authority, and is willing to be instructed.

25 And Moses chose excellent men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Here is the implementation. Moses acts decisively. He chose excellent men out of all Israel. The word for "excellent" here is the same word Jethro used, often translated "able" or "capable." It points to men of substance, men of proven character and competence. The qualifications Jethro had laid out were clear: they had to be men who fear God, men of truth, and men who hate dishonest gain (Ex. 18:21). This is not a call for a popularity contest. It is a call for moral and spiritual substance. Leadership in God's economy is not about charisma or political savvy; it is about character. You cannot build a just society on a foundation of corrupt judges.

And then he made them heads over the people. He delegated real authority. This is crucial. This was not the creation of advisory boards. These men were appointed as rulers, as heads. And the structure is beautifully simple and scalable: leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. This is a hierarchical structure, but it is not a top-heavy bureaucracy. It is a system of delegated authority that pushes decision-making down to the lowest appropriate level. This ensures that justice is swift and accessible. A man with a dispute about his neighbor's goat doesn't have to wait in line for a year to see Moses. He can go to the leader of his ten, and the matter can be settled. This is federalism in its nascent, biblical form. God's design for governance is one of distributed power and layered responsibilities, not a monolithic, centralized state.

26 And they judged the people at all times; the difficult matter they would bring to Moses, but every minor matter they themselves would judge.

Now we see the system in operation. They judged the people at all times. The machinery of justice was now constantly available. The burnout of the one man, Moses, was replaced by the steady work of many. This is the fruit of wise delegation. The burden was shared, and the people were served.

The principle of appeal is also established. The difficult matter they would bring to Moses. This is the principle of appellate jurisdiction. Not every case is simple. Some disputes involve intricate points of law or have far-reaching implications. These "hard cases" were reserved for Moses, who was the supreme court, as it were. This protected the integrity of the law and ensured that the most consequential decisions were made by the one with the most wisdom and the most direct access to God. But the default was localism: every minor matter they themselves would judge. The vast majority of life's disputes are minor matters, and they are best handled by those closest to the situation. This system honors the dignity of local leaders and prevents the central authority from being crushed under a mountain of trivialities. It is a pattern of wisdom for the church, for the state, and for every institution that wants to function in a healthy, orderly way.

27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

The chapter concludes with this simple, peaceful farewell. Moses let his father-in-law depart. There is a sense of closure and propriety. Jethro's work was done. He came, he saw a problem, he offered godly counsel, he saw it implemented, and now it was time for him to go home. He did not linger to micromanage the new system or to build a power base for himself. His was a ministry of timely wisdom, and once it was discharged, he receded into the background.

And he went his way into his own land. This is a beautiful picture of how God can use anyone, even those outside the immediate covenant community, to bring wisdom and blessing to His people. Jethro returns to Midian, but his legacy of wise counsel is now woven into the fabric of the nation of Israel. It is a reminder that all truth is God's truth, and wisdom is to be valued wherever it is found. Moses, the humble leader, received it, implemented it, and then graciously sent his counselor on his way. The whole episode is a master class in godly leadership, practical wisdom, and the establishment of righteous order.

Application

The principles embedded in this short narrative are profoundly relevant for us today. First, we must cultivate the humility of Moses. In an age where every man does what is right in his own eyes, we must be a people who can receive counsel. Pastors must be willing to listen to their elders, husbands to their wives, and all of us to the wisdom of those God has placed in our lives. A refusal to be taught is a hallmark of pride, and pride is the fast track to destruction.

Second, we must take seriously the qualifications for leadership. Whether we are choosing elders for a church or representatives for civil office, the criteria should be the same: able men, who fear God, who are men of truth, and who hate bribes. Character is not an optional extra; it is the whole foundation. To place men who lack these qualities in positions of authority is to invite judgment upon ourselves.

Finally, we should see in this passage a blueprint for a free and ordered society. The Bible does not endorse a top-heavy, centralized, bureaucratic state that pokes its nose into every minor matter. It endorses a system of delegated authority, where families, churches, and local communities handle their own affairs. The difficult matters, the truly weighty issues, are for higher authorities, but the vast majority of governance should be local. This is the principle of sphere sovereignty. When we abandon this biblical pattern, we get what we have today: a federal government that wants to regulate our puddles and our pronouns, while the most fundamental duties of justice are neglected. The way back to sanity is the way of Jethro's counsel: godly leaders judging righteously in their own gates.