OUR GROWTH THROUGH PROBLEMS
Exodus 18:13-26
Moses father in law had heard about what God had done for
Israel through his leadership. He probable heard about the victory
over the Amalekites . Moses father in law, Jethro , the priest of
Midian set down and talked about what God had done to free
The Hebrew people from Egypt.
Moses father in law brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him,
When Moses started for Egypt, he took his family with him.
The Bible does not tell us when Moses sent his wife and sons back
to his father in law. Some suggest that it was after the first conflict
with the Pharaoh of Egypt.
MOSES THE MAN OF GOD.
Moses had been taught about God by his father in law.
He labored for 40 years as a shepherd in Midian under his
father in law.
He met God and establishes a relationship with God at mountain
side next to the burning bush that was not consumed by fire.
After Some personal objections, he became obedient to God.
MOSES THE FAMILY MAN
It is best when we leave our jobs, we leave the problems
On the job at the job site,
If we bring our problems home we may end up damaging
our family life. If I bring my problems home. I may take them
out on the family. If I am mad, I may end up mad at the family.
If I am frustrated, I may take my frustrations out on the family.
When I should be listening to the family who need my attention
I may end up not listening at all.
Moses could not separate the job from the family. He had the
threats and rejections by the Pharaoh. He had the complaints
And rejection of the people he was commissioned to help.
God does not tell us why Moses wife and sons went back to Midian.
But it shielded them from all the problems of a troubled people.
MOSES THE LEADER
V:13. The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, \”What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?\”
15 Moses answered him, \”Because the people come to me to seek God\’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God\’s decrees and laws.\”
A. As a leader we have to follow God’s commands.
1. Moses did not have an easy job.
2. He was sent to the Pharaoh of Egypt who would not listen
because God harden his heart.
3. He was dealing with a people who were angry with him because
the Pharaoh made their work more difficult each time Moses
came with a word from God.
B. Despite the increasing burden on Moses, he continued to be
obedient to God’s commands.
1. The time frame of the ten plagues may have been two weeks to two
months. God does not give us an exact time frame.
2. Faith in the power of God gives us the strength to
endure as God works His plan.
C. As the leader, Moses was judge over all the civil matters.
1. Every time the people wanted something, they complained
to Moses and accused him of bringing them to the desert to
die.
2. All of us have some desert time that God leads us through
to grow us to the responsibility of freedom.
3. We must rely on God for justice and provisions.
4. Moses felt the brunt of the people’s complaints and the burdens
of judging their civil matters.
MOSES THE LISTENER AND TEACHER
V:17. Moses\’ father-in-law replied, \”What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people\’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain — and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.\”
A, God gives us work, but He also gives us helpers.
1. Sometimes it takes someone on the outside to show us the help
God provides.
2. We can get so busy doing what we do that we for get to ask God for
help.
B. When we need help God will send someone to give us advice.
1. Jethro, Moses father in law saw the extreme pressure Moses
was enduring.
2. Moses father in law knew that took much work was detrimental to
to his health.
3. Moses had many people around him but he did not see them as
his help.
4. Jethro the priest of Midian, knew how to delegate authority,
GOOD ADVISE
C. People have to be trained to take responsibility.
1. As the leader we must take charge of the people as God’s representative
use them as God provides.
2. As a leader you have to choose the right people.
a. Choose people who fear God.
b. Choose people who are trustworthy
c. Choose people who hate dishonest gain
d. Choose men who are capable
3. Teach men how to do your job.
a. Teach them the decrees and the laws of God,
b. Show them the way to live.
c. Show them how to perform the duties.
4. Organize the chosen group in leadership positions.
a. Appoints them as official judges of the people
reporting to you.
b. Appoint some over thousands
c. Appoint some over hundreds
d. Appoint some ore fifties
e. Appoint some over tens
D. Moses was advised to let them judge every simple case.
1. Every difficult case, Moses instructed them to bring to him.
2. This organizational advice removed most of the
burden of civil judgment from Moses to responsible
men.
3. We can all take a lesson from Jethro.
MOSES AS A DELEGATOR
V:24. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
A. You cannot be too proud to ask for help.
1. As a leader, when your assignment from God is too much for
you, don’t be to proud to delegate to others.
2. God grows you into the leader He wants by presenting you
with challenges.
B. Because Moses listened to God’s word from his father in law,
he went from a one man show to a true leader of men.
1. We can always learn something from others.
2. Moses utilized the help that was in front of him.
MOSES THE BENEFICARY OF GOOD ADVICE
V:27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.
A. We should be grateful when other see our troubles and offer advice.
1. You never know who God will use to help you.
2. Moses had not considered asking his father in law for advice,
but God saw his need.
B. God knew the right time to bring his wife and sons back to him
for comfort.
1. If we are faithful in our duties, God will be faithful with His
blessings.
2. Make use of the advice God gives to others for you.
Rev M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041
For more lessons, follow me on facebook and
Visit my blogs; revmmitchell.com
And goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
