Just One More VaEtchanan Thing...

Over Shabbos, someone I heard speak cited an Ohr HaChayim from parshat Yitro (Shmot 18:21 at the end of his words on the pasuk). The Ohr HaChayim explains why Yitro is written up in the Torah as having given sagacious advice even though this may paint the Jewish People in a disparaging manner (because they seemed to not get something until this Midianite priest came and enlightened them). "It seems that the reasoning behind this is for G-d to show Bnei Yisrael, both that generation and each and every generation, that there are amongst the nations people who excel in understanding and in deep wisdom...And the point is that it was not due to their smartness or profound wisdom that G-d chose the Jewish People, but rather due to the highest kindness and His love for our forefathers."

See if you can guess what this connects to in VaEtchanan and what question it raises.