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Exodus 18 · Grade 5

Shared Leadership

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Read and Think

Exodus 18 offers a pause between the Red Sea and Sinai. Jethro, a Midianite priest, hears Moses' testimony and confesses, Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods. The exodus was a witness to the nations, as God intended (9:16). Christians have read Jethro's sacrifice and fellowship meal with Israel's elders as a picture of Gentiles joining in worship of the true God.

Jethro's advice is practical wisdom. Moses' attempt to judge every case alone was unsustainable, harmful to both Moses and the people. Jethro recommends that Moses focus on his unique calling: to represent the people before God and to teach them God's statutes. Capable leaders would handle ordinary cases. This principle appears again in Acts 6, when the apostles appoint helpers so they can devote themselves to prayer and the word.

The qualifications are telling: able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain. Competence matters, but so do reverence and integrity. In the New Testament, the qualifications for church leaders also focus on character (1 Timothy 3). Moses' willingness to receive counsel from his father-in-law shows humility. Numbers 12:3 later describes Moses as very humble.

Show What You Know

  1. What did Jethro confess?

  2. Christians have read Jethro's fellowship meal as a picture of what?

  3. What was Moses' unique calling according to Jethro?

  4. Where does a similar principle appear in the New Testament?

  5. What do the qualifications for leaders emphasize?

Think About It

  1. How does your church share the work of ministry? How could you help?

  2. Why is it humble and wise to accept advice from others?

Memory Verse

“Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”

Exodus 18:21 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How can you stay teachable when you are in charge?
  • How can you share work so it is not too heavy?
  • How can you choose honest helpers?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.