Yithro is one of my favorite parashot since, like Moses a"h I learned a great deal from my father-in-law Elihu Laheani a"h.
I dislike it, then, when I read a drash that denigrates what Yithro told his son-in-law. I read one commentary the other day that said Moses didn't implement what Yithro suggested regarding judges until HaShem told him sometime later.
According to The Source (Exodus/Shemot 18:24), Moses apparently did immediately implement what Yithro instructed. Yithro did include the caveat (Exodus/Shemot 18:23) "If you do this thing and G-d command you so, but there is no indication that Moses conferred with HaShem or vice versa on this subject.
We understand that Moses implemented Yithro's suggestion before Yithro left came, since "they (judges) judged people at all seasons" (Exodus/Shemot 18:26)
Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe in his A Torah Minute (http://www.atorahminute.com/2011-01-20) focuses on "And Jethro heard everything that G-d did for Moses and His people" (Exodus/Shemoth 18:1).
The Gemara of Zebahim asks, "what did Yithro hear?" The answer is that he heard about the splitting of the Red Sea and the war against 'Amaleq. These two events are two complete opposites.
The reason Yithro came was to better comprehend this apparent contradiction. Moshe Rabbenu, 'a"h, explained to him;the explanation clarified the matter in Yithro's mind he declared, "Now I know that G-d is greater than all the other gods".
From this, continues Rabbi Menashe, we see that there are two levels of comprehension. When it says Yithro heard (Exodus/Shemot 18:1), it refers to acceptance at face value, through the faith of the heart. But when he says "now I know" (Exodus/Shemot 18:11), this refers to understanding through investigation and inquiry. The former is weaker because doubt can creep in, but knowing as a result of study, reasoning and understanding, is unshakeable.
