Exodus 18:5-12 - Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done

18:5-9

Word of Israel’s release, and probably Moses’ leadership, had spread around, and had reached Jethro, who now judges that it is a good time to return Moses’ family to him. Moses bowed down to Jethro,a typical mark of respect in that culture. It also seems that they got on well together. Jethro would have heard the broad outlines of what had happened, but Moses filled him in on all the details, possibly correcting a few misconceptions and false details that would have inevitably accompanied the spread of the news. Jethro rejoiced at the news, recognising that it was the Lord who had acted to bring these things about. Whatever Jethro’s actual “spiritual state” he is presented as a good man. It is far better for a nation to have leaders who respect God, even if they do not have “saving faith”, than to have leaders who have no regard for the truth and the Lord.

18:10-12

“Blessed be the Lord”, Jethro declares his praise for the Lord. The actions of God demonstrated to him that God was greater than all the other gods. He also saw the righteousness of God’s actions. It is a simple fact that people notice God when He does stuff! This includes miracles, and acts of kindness and justice done through His people. Now none of this is enough, it needs a work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life for them to be born again, but the acts are important. Jethro made sacrifices to God, and shared a fellowship meal with Moses, Aaron and the elders of Israel.