Exodus 18: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Exodus 18 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, arrives in the wilderness with Zipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer (vv. 1-6). Moses recounts to Jethro all that Yahweh has done for Israel, leading to Jethro’s joyful acknowledgment of God’s greatness and a burnt offering in worship (vv.

Key verse

“Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.”
Exodus 18:10 (WEB)

Outline

Exodus 18:1–6 Jethro's Arrival and Reunion
Exodus 18:7–12 A Joyful Acknowledgment of God
Exodus 18:13–23 Observing Moses' Leadership
Exodus 18:24–27 Moses Implements Jethro's Advice

Discussion questions

In v6, who arrives with Jethro to meet Moses in the wilderness?
What does Jethro say in vv. 9-10 after hearing about Israel's deliverance?
Jethro's advice in vv. 19-20: what tension exists between spiritual authority and shared leadership?
In v18, Jethro warns Moses that he will 'wear away': what implications does this have for leadership?
When has someone offered you wise 'counsel' (v19) that changed your approach to a responsibility?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Exodus 18: Hebrews 13, Deuteronomy 1, Psalm 46.

Before next time: read Exodus 19.