Honoring Unbelieving Superiors

The beginning of Exodus 18 recounts, what many would consider, the conversion narrative of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. In Exodus 2, when Moses fled Egypt after killing a murderer, he went to Midian where he would meet the seven daughters of Jethro, a Midianite priest, and decidedly married Zipporah. It becomes clear in our text that Moses, at some point, sent Zipporah and their two sons away to stay with Jethro for a while. Upon reuniting with his wife and children, we read of the great respect that Moses has for Jethro, for he “went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him.”[1] We also see respect in the way in which Moses sites several times that Jethro is his father-in-law. As one commentator would explain: “The repetition of this kinship with Moses seven times in twelve verses produces an atmosphere of polite formality.”[2] We can presume, with such a level of honor Moses gives, that this is the way he interacted with his father-in-law from the time they first met in Midian, prior to his conversion.

Well, what wisdom can we gain from the relationship between Moses and Jethro? The wisdom we gain is the wisdom of showing honor and respect to our elders, particularly those who have not yet trusted in the Lord. First, the respect we show to our elders is a respect that comes simply because they are made in the image of God, as all humanity is.[3] To show dishonor to another image bearer is a dishonor to the God who made them. Secondly, we are called to honor our elders because it is a direct commandment from our God. God’s people are unequivocally called to “honor our fathers and mothers”.[4] The Westminster Shorter Catechism fleshes out our duty in keeping the fifth commandment in stating: “The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.”[5] The catechism reminds us that our honor is to go beyond our parents and guardians, but to all our superiors. This honor to unbelieving superiors is expanded to the civil magistrate as well. Both Apostles Paul and Peter remind us to respect the authority that God puts over us knowing that their authority comes from God.[6]

Honoring our superiors is an honor to the Lord. We obey God in showing them respect. Yet, there may be another benefit to showing honor, which is the potential salvation of a superior. The Apostle Peter, after writing about honor to the civil magistrate, instructs wives to show respect particularly to unbelieving husbands “so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.”[7] I do not want to guarantee that every unbelieving superior’s narrative will conclude like Jethro’s, but on the converse, what would have been Jethro’s thoughts concerning the God of Israel if Moses disregarded his father-in-law because he didn’t have faith like the patriarchs? The encouragement is simply this: show honor to your superiors because God has called His people to do so, but also because that honor may be the very thing God uses to bring that superior to Himself.

[1] Exodus 18:7

[2] Brevard Childs. The Book of Exodus. (The Westminster Press, 1976), 327.

[3] Genesis 1:27

[4] Exodus 20:12

[5] Westminster Shorter Catechism. Question 64.

[6] Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13ff

[7] 1 Peter 3:1-2