Exodus 18:7-12: a reflection

7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent. 8Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 9Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, 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. 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.” 12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

When Moses is reunited with his father-in-law Jethro, a priest of Midian, Moses tells him all that the LORD had done, how God delivered Israel from Pharaoh and Egypt, and all the hardships along the way, and how the LORD had rescued them. And Jethro's response is striking: he rejoices at all the good God had done, blesses the LORD, declares, Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, and offers a sacrifice. Moses' testimony of what God had done led Jethro, an outsider, to rejoice and to worship.

Notice what Moses did and what it produced. Moses simply told the story of what God had done, recounting God's deliverance and faithfulness. And that testimony led Jethro to rejoice, to bless God, to confess God's greatness, and to worship. The simple telling of God's works became the occasion for another to be drawn to praise and to acknowledge the LORD.

That shows the power of testimony. When we simply tell others what God has done, in the Scriptures and in our own lives, our testimony can lead them, as Moses' led Jethro, to rejoice, to acknowledge God, even to worship. We need not always argue or persuade; sometimes the simple recounting of God's works and faithfulness is what draws others to praise him. Tell others what God has done. Share the testimony of his deliverance and faithfulness, in Scripture and in your own experience, and trust that such testimony can lead others, as Moses' led Jethro, to rejoice and to acknowledge the greatness of the LORD. Your testimony of God's works may be the very thing that draws another to praise him.

Lord, when Moses told Jethro all that you had done, how you delivered your people, Jethro rejoiced, blessed you, confessed your greatness, and worshiped; Moses' testimony led an outsider to praise. Help me share such testimony. When I simply tell others what you have done, in your word and in my own life, let my testimony draw them, as Moses' drew Jethro, to rejoice and to acknowledge you. Keep me from thinking I must always argue or persuade; help me see that the simple recounting of your works and faithfulness can lead others to praise. Give me the readiness to tell what you have done, and trust that such testimony can draw others to acknowledge your greatness. Let my witness to your works lead others to rejoice in you and to worship.