Exodus 18:1 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3 along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land”) 4 and the other Eliezer (because he had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword”).
So Moses had sent his wife and two sons back to her father's home, probably to protect them from any harm from the Egyptians and Israelites. The Egyptians being angry about the plagues and the Israelites angry about their increased work.
Exodus 18:5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God. 6 He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been and went into the tent. 8 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 that confronted them on the way, and how the Lord delivered them.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. 10 “Praise the Lord,” Jethro exclaimed, “who rescued you from Pharaoh and the power of the Egyptians and snatched the people from the power of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.”
Jethro heard the story of how God delivered the people from Egypt and he believed. He said that he knew Yahweh was greater than all other Gods and that he was a just god by punishing the Egyptians who acted arrogantly against the Israelites.
Exodus 18:12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in God’s presence.
After hearing all that the Lord had done for Israel, after hearing of the wonderful and magnificent acts of God on Israel's behalf, Jethro felt the need to sacrifice to the Lord. He felt the need to acknowledge the power and worthiness of God. He felt the need to worship. Isn't that how we should react when we hear of the awesome work and power of our Lord? We should feel a need to acknowledge his power and worthiness. We should feel a need to worship Him.
Exodus 18:13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”
Moses sat as a judge for all the people. The people see him has knowledgeable in the laws of God and want him to settle disputes according to God's law. Moses is doing this all on his own. There was no one there helping him.
Exodus 18:17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’ father-in-law said to him. 18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone. 19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him.20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. 21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. 23 If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”
Jethro gave Moses some great advise. Divide the work among able and God-fearing men. Let them judge small groups and let them handle to easy cases and you take the hard ones. Everyone can have their case heard quickly and not have to wait and Moses could have a rest. Moses, being the one who God gave the law to can instruct the people the laws and statutes of God so that they know what is to be done, but he should not do the whole task of teaching and judging on his own.
Exodus 18:24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves.
Moses did as Jethro recommended. Moses was no longer doing it all on his own. He had help. He had those he could trust around him to help judge the disputes of the people.
Exodus 18:27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land.
It says that Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law and he went back home. I am guessing that his wife and sons stayed with him since he did not say goodbye to them.
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