Welcome to today's Daily PBJ Devotionals. If you're reading the Old Testament schedule this year, read Exodus 18, Job 36, and Psalm 66. This devotional is about Exodus 18. Now Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, I have been a foreigner in a foreign land. The other son was named Eleazar, for Moses had said, the God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh. Moses' father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses' wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. He sent word to Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons. So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel, whom he had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro declared, Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and a Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this when they treated Israel with arrogance. Then Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God. The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge with all the people standing around you from morning till evening? because the people come to me to inquire of God," Moses replied. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God. But Moses' father-in-law said to him, What you are doing is not good. Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. Now listen to me. I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God, and bring their causes to Him. Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live, and the work they must do. Furthermore, select capable men from among the people, God-fearing, trustworthy men, who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you. If you follow this advice, and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure and all these people can go home in peace. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. They would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves. Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land. This is God's word. Whatever his background and beliefs, Jethro heard of God's deliverance for Israel from others, according to verse 1. But Moses described what happened personally in verse 8. Moses did not just describe the miracles and the plagues God had used to Jethro. According to verse 8, Moses also told his father-in-law, quote, about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved them. Those are the words of the NIV in verse 8. Moses' description there, then, would include the food and water miracles, as well as God's deliverance from the Amalekites, which we've read about in the preceding chapters. All of this was more than enough evidence that the God of Israel is true. Jethro's confession of faith in verse 11, Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, may sound like the words of a man who believes in many gods, with Yahweh just being the best. But that phrase, that language, is actually a common Old Testament way of expressing true faith. Couple that statement with the fact that Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel, as verse 9 in the NIV says, and that he brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, according to verse 11. And it seems clear that Jethro was truly converted at the time described in this chapter. Moses' testimony of God's work was a powerful instrument in the conversion of Jethro. Have you considered how God might use your testimony to save others? Not just your testimony about how God saved you, but also of the other things He has done in your life since then. Think about how your salvation and your walk with God has impacted your life. Then be ready to share that whenever the door opens. Please share this with someone who might be encouraged to share their testimony with others. And I'll see you next time. May God bless you. Hope you have a great day.