The Lord has brought the Israelites out of Egypt and they are closing in on Mount Sinai where they will witness a tremendous manifestation of the Lord’s presence in the giving of the Ten Commandments. Many call this epic event the heart and center of the book of Exodus. But before they reach the mountain of the Lord, there are two scenes involving Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro. In the first scene, Jethro, a priest of Midian, meets Moses again for the first time since Moses left Egypt. Although Jethro had heard all that God had done for Israel, Moses gave him a first-hand account of what the Lord had done. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them (18:8).
Hearing these words from Moses, Jethro rejoiced for all the good the Lord has done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro exclaimed, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” Jethro heard, rejoiced, and he believed, exulting, “Yahweh is greater than all gods!” Jethro worshiped the Lord along with Moses and Aaron, with a sacrificial offering before God.
Jethro heard, believed, proclaimed, and worship!
