What did Moses do with Jethro's counsel in Exodus 18:24?
Exodus 18:24 states that Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law Jethro and did all that he said. Moses accepted the counsel completely, even though the chapter presents it as man's advice rather than a divine instruction, and he began selecting men as Jethro had directed.
Les teaches that in Exodus 18 Jethro offers Moses counsel in the energy of the flesh, not by divine revelation. Jethro says, 'Hearken now to my voice, I will give thee counsel,' and 'God be with thee,' yet Les points out the chapter never says, 'and the Lord said.' The Lord is out of the picture completely; this is strictly a man speaking. Jethro's advice sounds logical: teach ordinances and laws, show the way, and provide able men who fear God, men of truth, who hate covetousness, as rulers of thousands, hundreds, and fifties. Les notes Israel already had organization and came out of Egypt with their armies, not as rabble, with a system by tribes. Still, everything Jethro says rings true and sounds good. Then verse 24 says Moses harkened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he said. Les calls Jethro a pagan Midianite priest, and observes that Moses, this spiritual man in close relationship with God, listened and did just exactly that, beginning to pick out men.
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
More Questions
What did Moses do after Jethro gave him counsel?
Moses harkened to the voice of his father-in-law Jethro and did all that he said, beginning to pick out men as Jethro advised.
Who did Moses listen to despite his close relationship with God?
Moses, though a spiritual man in close relationship with God, listened to Jethro, whom Les calls a pagan Midianite priest.