Exodus 18 - Prayer Tents



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Exodus 18
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Jethro’s Visit to Moses

18Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the LORD had rescued them from Egypt.H3503H3548H4080H4872H2859H8085H430H6213H4872H3478H5971H3068H3318H3478H4714 2Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in.H3503H4872H2859H3947H6855H4872H802H310H7964 3(Moses' first son was named Gershom, for Moses had said when the boy was born, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land."H8147H1121H8034H259H1647H559H1616H5237H776 4His second son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, "The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.")H8034H259H461H430H1H5828H5337H2719H6547 5Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses' wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God.H3503H4872H2859H935H1121H802H4872H4057H2583H2022H430 6Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, "I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons."H559H4872H2859H3503H935H802H8147H1121 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other's welfare and then went into Moses' tent.H4872H3318H7125H2859H7812H5401H7592H376H7453H7965H935H168 8Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the LORD had rescued his people from all their troubles.H4872H5608H2859H3068H6213H6547H4714H3478H182H8513H4672H1870H3068H5337 9Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.H3503H2302H2896H3068H6213H3478H5337H3027H4714 10"Praise the LORD," Jethro said, "for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt!H3503H559H1288H3068H5337H3027H4714H3027H6547H5337H5971H3027H4714 11I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians."H3045H3068H1419H430H1697H2102 12Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God's presence.H3503H4872H2859H3947H5930H2077H430H175H935H2205H3478H398H3899H4872H2859H6440H430

Jethro’s Wise Advice

13The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people's disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.H4283H4872H3427H8199H5971H5971H5975H4872H1242H6153 14When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?"H4872H2859H7200H6213H5971H559H1697H6213H5971H3427H5971H5324H1242H6153 15Moses replied, "Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God.H4872H559H2859H5971H935H1875H430 16When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God's decrees and give them his instructions."H1697H935H8199H376H7453H3045H2706H430H8451 17"This is not good!" Moses' father-in-law exclaimed.H4872H2859H559H1697H6213H2896 18"You're going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.H5034H5034H5971H1697H3515H3201H6213 19Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing their disputes to him.H8085H6963H3289H430H1961H5971H4136H430H935H1697H430 20Teach them God's decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.H2094H853H2706H8451H3045H1870H3212H4639H6213 21But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.H2372H5971H2428H582H3373H430H582H571H8130H1215H7760H8269H505H8269H3967H8269H2572H8269H6235 22They should always be available to solve the people's common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.H8199H5971H6256H1419H1697H935H6996H1697H8199H7043H5375 23If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."H6213H1697H430H6680H3201H5975H5971H935H4725H7965 24Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions.H4872H8085H6963H2859H6213H559 25He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.H4872H977H2428H582H3478H5414H7218H5971H8269H505H8269H3967H8269H2572H8269H6235 26These men were always available to solve the people's common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.H8199H5971H6256H7186H1697H935H4872H6996H1697H1992H8199 27Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.H4872H2859H7971H3212H776


New Living Translation (NLT). Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. More details.
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