Exodus 18:19-20 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shall teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
Jethro is advising Moses with God’s wisdom about how to divide up the people into groups to better administer affairs and delegate responsibilities. Moses’ responsibilities were twofold: 1) A Priest’s function, to bring the people to God, and 2) A Prophet’s function, to bring God to the people. His response was to pray for the people, bringing their causes, concerns, needs, problems, and issues before the Lord; he was also to speak for God, teaching His ordinances and laws, His Word, and His will for their way and their work.
In this way, Moses prefigures Jesus’ offices of Priest and Prophet. Jesus offers Himself as the blood sacrifice to bring us holy into the Kingdom, and He continues to intercede for us. Jesus also is the Word of God, being God in His love, mercy, and forgiveness toward us, and teaching us the Gospel of salvation.
For us followers of Christ, we also respond as priests, praying for others, and as prophets, witnessing to others. We are the priesthood of all believers, called to function as priests and prophets in this world according to the peculiar gifts, specific vocation, and particular ministry which God distributes to each of us. This lifestyle is our response to the Gospel of God.