Exo 18:1-27  I, Thy Father-in-law Jethro am Come unto Thee, and thy Wife, and her Two Sons with Her

[Study Aired July 25, 2022]

Exo 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;
Exo 18:2  Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
Exo 18:3  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:
Exo 18:4  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:
Exo 18:5  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:
Exo 18:6  And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
Exo 18:7  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.
Exo 18:8  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.
Exo 18:9  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.
Exo 18:10  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.
Exo 18:11  Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
Exo 18:12  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.
Exo 18:13  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.
Exo 18:14  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?
Exo 18:15  And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
Exo 18:16  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.
Exo 18:17  And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 
Exo 18:18  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. 
Exo 18:19  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: 
Exo 18:20  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. 
Exo 18:21  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: 
Exo 18:22  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. 
Exo 18:23  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. 
Exo 18:24  So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 
Exo 18:25  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. 
Exo 18:26  And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 
Exo 18:27  And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Today’s study is about Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, who visited Moses in the wilderness, and the advice he gave Moses regarding how judgment must be administered to the children of Israel. We shall focus on the spiritual implication of Jethro’s visit and his advice to Moses, as it is the spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

If we only focus on the story and the physical lessons we can glean from it, then we are paying attention to the letter of the word which kills.

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Exo 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; 
Exo 18:2  Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 

Jethro means ‘His excellency’. That means spiritually, Jethro stands for our Lord Jesus Christ who is an epitome of excellency. The Lord not only knows, but has planned, every detail of our lives, both good and evil as signified by Jethro, being aware of all that God had done for Moses and the people of Israel.

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 
Psa 139:17  How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, taking care of Zipporah, Moses’ wife, is to let us know the Lord’s care for the church. As we have shown in previous studies, Moses also stands for Christ, therefore, his wife is the bride of Christ. Just as a husband who loves his wife cares for her with his own life, our Lord has laid down his life for the body of Christ.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The Lord’s care for his bride as seen by Jethro’s care for Moses’ wife is illustrated by the psalm of David as follows:

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 
Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 
Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 
Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 
Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Exo 18:3  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: 
Exo 18:4  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: 

Just as Joseph’s two sons were reckoned to be the Lord’s, the two sons born to Moses are the Lord’s. In other words, they represent the elect.

Gen 48:5  And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

This assertion of the two sons representing the elect is made clear based on the names of the sons – Gershom and Eliezer. According to Strong’s Dictionary, Gershom means a ‘refugee’ and Eliezer stands for ‘God of help’. As the Lord’s elect, we are aliens in a strange land here on earth. We are therefore admonished to walk by faith just like Abraham in our lives here on earth.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

As His elect (Eliezer), the Lord will help us to be delivered from the sword of Pharaoh. As we have indicated in previous studies, Pharaoh represents the old man or the flesh or the beast within. The sword of Pharaoh constitutes the false doctrines and man’s wisdom from which the Lord is delivering us as His elect.

Exo 18:5  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: 
Exo 18:6  And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her. 
Exo 18:7  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.

Inwardly, Jethro coming to Moses is Christ coming to us with His judgment to destroy the old man within us or the flesh.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Outwardly, Jethro coming to Moses with Moses’ wife and two sons represents Christ coming with the cloud of witnesses who represents the elect when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Exo 18:8  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. 
Exo 18:9  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. 
Exo 18:10  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. 
Exo 18:11  Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 

In verse 8, we are told that Moses recounted all the travail that had come upon them by the way. This travail is the fiery trials we must endure as we journey through this life. The good news is that the Lord will deliver us from all of them.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Outwardly, when we meet the Lord face to face in the first resurrection, then we shall see everything plainly. When Moses met Jethro, the discussion centered around what the Lord had done to redeem Moses and the people of Israel. In other words, the discussion was based on the word of the Lord, which shows us what the Lord has been/is doing on our behalf. In a similar vein, when we meet the Lord face to face, that is when perfection comes, and we shall know fully the word of truth. This is what Paul said regarding meeting the Lord:

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 
1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 
1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Inwardly, when Christ (Jethro) comes to us with the brightness of His coming, we see and clearly hear the word of the Lord as the veil that blinds our minds is taken away.  Jethro’s assertion in verse 11 that he had come to see that the Lord is greater than all gods is to affirm the fact that the Lord’s coming to us results in the opening of our eyes and ears to see clearly who Christ is.

2Co 3:12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Exo 18:12  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.

Outwardly, this verse is about the marriage supper of the Lamb which is the consummation of the union between Christ and the church. In other words, this union is for our perfection.

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Inwardly, verse 12 is about the Lord opening our eyes to see and our ears to hear as we feast upon His words at His table.  David alluded to this when he said that the Lord shall prepare a table before him in the presence of his enemies. The enemies here refers to all that is within us that resist the kingdom of God from being established within us – the old man or the flesh.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

The preparation of the Lord’s table in the presence of our enemies, is to make us aware that our old man (representing the enemies) is aware of how the Lord has given us the weapons (His words) to defeat him. Thus, the old man knows that his demise is a matter of time. This is exemplified in the story of Saul admitting that David will surely ascend the throne. Here David represents the elect, and Saul symbolizes our old man who is doomed to die.

1Sa 24:16  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 
1Sa 24:17  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 
1Sa 24:18  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 
1Sa 24:19  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
1Sa 24:20  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 
1Sa 24:21  Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. 
1Sa 24:22  And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold. 

David swearing to Saul that He would not cut off his seed is to make us aware that although the old man is being immobilized daily by the Lord within us, it will still be with us. That is why we are admonished to watch and pray lest we give course for the old man to resurrect in our lives.

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The opening of our eyes to see and our ears to hear is the work of the Holy Spirit which is inferred in Psalm 23:5 when it states that our head shall be anointed with oil and our cup shall run over. Our head being anointed with oil signifies that the Holy spirit will come to us to lead us into all truth. The running over of the cup means that we have been given enough oil to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God in this life and to be part of what every joint supplies. What every joint supplies is the running over of our cup to the body of Christ.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

Exo 18:13  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. 

The marriage supper of the Lamb is the period where the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, which is figuratively supposed to last a thousand years. When the thousand years come to an end, a new age of the white throne judgment shall begin where judgment shall be given to the elect. This is signified in verse 13 by Moses who stands for the elect judging the people of Israel. This age of the white throne judgment is referred to here in Exodus 18:13 as the morrow.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

This judgment is what Paul was referring to when he told the Corinthian church that if they cannot judge simple matters of this world without resorting to the court system, how can they judge angels?

1Co 6:1  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 
1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 
1Co 6:4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 

Exo 18:14  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? 
Exo 18:15  And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 
Exo 18:16  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.
Exo 18:17  And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 
Exo 18:18  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. 

In the body of Christ, what every joint supplies must not be dependent on one person. Initially when the body is being built, almost all the work may depend on one person – an apostle. However, after a while, the body must grow such that every part functions properly. If the body is not able to grow, then it becomes a problem. For example, if the legs are not able to grow, then the body has to be carried which becomes a burden to those who carry it. Paul made sure that in every city that he preached, he appointed elders to oversee the work of the ministry so that he would not be unduly burdened. For example, in the churches, Antioch, for example, Paul brought up prophets and teachers to share the burden of the work.

Act 13:1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Act 14:23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Tit 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

In the Babylonian system, which we were part of during a certain period of our walk with Christ, the pastor of a church is the main actor in the church administration – he does everything. They fail to see plural leadership as key to the Lord’s administration of the body of Christ. No wonder they burn out easily as they become unduly burdened. This is all because they have not been given eyes to see and ears to hear.

Exo 18:19  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: 
Exo 18:20  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. 

These verses show us how we must conduct the Lord’s business in the body of Christ as elders. Moses here also stands for the elders of the churches. They are to teach the people how to walk and the work they are to do. This is primarily the role that the elders of churches must play in the body.

Act 6:4  But we (the elders) will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

Tit 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Exo 18:21  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:
Exo 18:22  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.

These verses show us the qualifications of an elder. Paul and Peter further gave instructions to the churches regarding the qualifications of an elder as follows:

Tit 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 
Tit 1:6  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 
Tit 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 
Tit 1:8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Tit 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

1Ti 3:1  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 
1Ti 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 
1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 
1Ti 3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 
1Ti 3:5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 
1Ti 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1Pe 5:1  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 
1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Exo 18:23  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.
Exo 18:24  So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
Exo 18:25  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.

When we obey the Lord’s command regarding the setting up of elders to oversee the administration of the church, and they do their work properly, then our fellowship shall become a place where every joint supplies to bring us to the full stature of Christ.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Our adherence to the words of the Lord regarding the administration of the church shall qualify us to receive the crown of glory when the Chief Shepherd shall appear at the end of this age.

1Pe 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Exo 18:26  And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 

We are to do the work of the Lord at all seasons as stated in verse 26. We do not take a break in this work of the Lord. This is because the devil is roaming around like a lion looking for whom he can destroy. Any inclination towards relaxing in our commitment to the things of God will cost us dearly.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 
1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1 Peter 5:10 is one of the scriptures that gives us hope in times that everything looks dim as we go through His judgment. The good news is that these fiery trials only last for a while and the end product of these trials is that we become perfect, established, strengthened and settled! Amen!!

Exo 18:27  And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land. 

Moses seeing off his father-in-law on his way into his own land is the same as our Lord Jesus traveling to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. Thus, we are required to occupy until He comes.

Luk 19:12  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 
Luk 19:13  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 
Luk 19:14  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 
Luk 19:15  And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 

May the Lord show mercy to us so that when He comes, we shall be found to have gained enough by trading. That is to say that we become obedient to His words in every way!! We have this confidence that He who has begun a good work in us will see to its completion!! Amen!!!