There are some strong connections between chapter 17 and 18. They both tell us of encounters with non-Israelites. The Amalekites "greeted" Moses with warfare - and Moses had to respond by appointing men to a task (fight) while he administrated the battle and receiving help from his assistants. In chapter 18 Jethro "greets" Moses in positive terms and actually helps him administrate the Law to the nation. Then we see God greet the people - and there is trembling and great fear!
In this we see the contrast between how people who do not know God respond to Him - some with animosity and attack, others with gratitude, worship, and involvement.
Verses 1 - 12
We don’t know exactly why Zipporah left or when. It’s possible that she and the boys went back to Jethro after their little family spat in chapter 4. But it would be important for Eliezer, the next high priest, to be a witness of what God had done. Regardless, he comes and there is a little family reunion.
Jethro "heard" of what God did (vs 1), "came" to the source (vs 5), "asked" how it happened (vs 7), "rejoiced" in what God did (vs 9), "blessed" the name of the Lord (vs 10), "knew" that God was the greatest (vs 11), and "brought" a sacrifice - he worshipped (vs 12).
Amalek no doubt had heard of the Israelites, "came" to fight - and learned first hand just what it is like to have God as your enemy. Jethro’s suggestions (we’ll see in a minute) are accepted by Moses and God. Amalek’s very existence will be wiped out forever (Ch 17 vs 14).
These are the same reactions people have when they hear what God has done through His Son Jesus Christ. Some when they hear will react strongly and negatively - and will actively resist acknowledging who God is. Others will be curious, find out more, recognize who God is, and receive Him.
In the end there is no neutral ground. Jesus said:
Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. NIV
So Jethro and Moses and Aaron and the elders of Israel come and they have a big feast - and then Jethro witnesses Moses administration and makes a suggestion:
Verses 13 - 18
Jethro is not telling Moses what to do - he is giving "advice" (vs 19).
Verses 19 - 20
So Jethro tells Moses to go before God for the broad parameters, then the people will apply those parameters to individual situations.
Statutes: specific enactments
Laws: general enactments
"way in which they must walk:" lifestyle
"what they must do:" jobs each was to perform
Verses 21 - 23
Qualifications for the leaders:
Able: capable - having a natural aptitude for leading
Have a respect and belief in God
Trustworthy
Honest
In many ways this is how the church operates as well. We have God’s Word - the words and witness of Jesus Christ and the Apostles - to give us the outline. Then we as leaders help apply those outlines to the everyday life of the believer.
Paul, in 2 Timothy 1 said: 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
"Pattern" means an outline or sketch. It wasn’t necessary for Paul to be so specific with every little situation. The Word - and the Holy Spirit - can work through others to help fill in the details.
Verses 24 - 27
So even though this is a little odd that Moses - God’s chosen instrument, should need advice from a foreigner - but it happens and God doesn’t seem to mind.
Perhaps this is setting up Chapter 19, where Moses and the people hear directly from God - perhaps this system is set up because Moses is going to have some really really big things to deal with shortly and needs help in administering the small stuff.
Chapter 19
Verses 1 - 2
Way back in chapter 3 God told Moses that the sign that He would take them out of Egypt was that they would worship at this mountain. Now they are here - back to the same mountain range where God first called Moses to go rescue the people.
Israel will remain here for 1 year. In that time God will reintroduce Himself to His people - and give them insights into His character and what He expects His people to be like. And it is very much like a marriage ceremony - with the giving and receiving of vows and promises. God is taking Israel to be His bride.
It apparently takes them three months to travel down the Arabian Peninsula to get to Mt. Sinai.
Verses 3 - 6
This appears a little different than in past times when the Lord spoke to Moses - here He is going to speak to him, not from a burning bush, or in some other fashion but "from the mountain."
God is setting the groundwork for His real purposes for this people. They were to obey His voice and keep His covenant then they will be:
God’s treasured possession (means "royal property")
Kingdom of priests
Holy nation ("set apart")
They were to belong to God and be set apart for a special purpose - to mediate between God and man (the job of a priest). What they don’t know yet is that this job included pointing the way to the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ.
God has given us the same task:
A Royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)
We are holy, "set apart" Colossians 1:22 (But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight) NIV
And a Kingdom of Priests (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6)
So now Moses goes back and tells the elders and the people what God has said.
Verses 7 - 9a
They affirm that they will obey the Lord. This won’t last, unfortunately - but what we are seeing here is the beginning of a marriage - the exchange of vows. Israel is accepting Yahweh as husband, and Yahweh is accepting Israel as bride.
"Believe you forever" - the idea is that they would trust Moses as their leader. That too didn’t last.
Verses 9b - 15
God is going to literally speak audibly to the people - and it will be an extremely frightening experience. In our post-modern world we really have no conception of the majesty of God. We think all there is is what exists or what man can create. But God will partially lift the thin veil that exists between His dimension and theirs - open the curtain slightly - and they will quake with fear. You would too.
They were to wash their clothes, abstain from intimate relations - and prepare themselves to go up the mountain at the trumpet blast - not one of their trumpets, but God’s. This abstinence was unprecedented but warranted. This was a time of sober reflection.
They were to come up to the mountain but not actually touch it lest they be stoned or shot with an arrow. God cannot be approached in our sins - it is protection for them, not for God.
Verses 16 - 20
So they wait three days - and it seems quite a storm is brewing on top of Mt. Sinai. But this isn’t just any old storm - it’s like a volcanic eruption. Things are so loud and shaking and scary that every one in the camp "trembles." You can also render that "they were so afraid their bodies shook." Have you ever been that scared?
I wonder why all the show? God spoke to Moses in a burning bush - pretty tame compared to a burning mountain. I wonder if perhaps through all the plagues and seeing God move so strongly on their behalf - a bit of pride might have set in.
"God’s on our side so we can do no wrong."
Make no mistake, the God they actually served is quite dangerous. Not only that, but He is quite holy and it is most dangerous for a human to approach God unless asked.
The smoking pillar of fire reminds me of the cloud that followed them and led them in the wilderness. I bet they never thought of that cloud the same way again if God was in it.
So this ram’s horn (translated "trumpet") gets louder and louder - they are feeling, seeing, and hearing some horrible things - and then Moses talks to the mountain - and low and behold - God answers him back in thunder.
This reminds me of during the Passion Week when some Greeks came to talk to Jesus and Jesus said "the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." And here’s what happened:
John 12:28-29 Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. NIV
So after all of this racket God actually comes down on the mountain and calls Moses to come up. Would you go?
We too should tremble when approaching the living God. We have these pictures of Jesus Christ meek and mild - but it is no light thing to draw near to God.
The writer of Hebrews says "Our God is a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29) but because of the blood of Christ:
Heb 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence , so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV
Verses 21 - 25
In chapter 24 there is a little more clarity on who was allowed access to where. Moses alone could come to the summit. Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and the 70 elders could come to the mountain, but not the summit, and the people had to stay a distance away. This might a foreshadowing of the outer courts, the holy place, and the holy of holies of the Tabernacle.
Verse 22 is the first reference to Israelite priests in the Old Testament. The priesthood isn’t initiated until chapter 28. There is plenty of confusion here - was there already some sort of priesthood in place or is this a foreshadowing of a future event?
I’m not sure it’s that important to know - what is important is this: God is being very careful about who approaches Him and when. It is very much for Israel’s protection.
But this should make us all the more excited when we think about the fact that Jesus Christ has made access to the Father so open and free.
Conclusions
God’s Presence is Prelude to His Law - the standard of perfection
The people then trembled, but we have no need to fear now
Hebrews 12:18-24 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. ESV
As fearful as the setting in Exodus 19 was, so much more joyful is the setting with Jesus Christ - no longer do we approach Mt Sinai and righteousness by the Law, but Mt Zion - the place where Christ died and rose, purchasing our redemption and our ability to please God through Him.
So instead of feeling like you are forever blowing it and are thus afraid to approach God - be free and joyous!
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