Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Exodus

Exodus 18 03/28/04

Message Title: ‘Lesson’s learned from a father-in-law’                                                                              Message Text: Ex. 18:1-27

Introduction: Charles Schulz, who was the Peanuts cartoonist, in his book ‘I Take My Religion Seriously’ drew a comic strip of a boy wearing a long coat that has pins cluttering the whole right side. He explained his awards to an admirer who was staring in disbelief at his pins: "These are perfect attendance pins for:  Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Youth leader training, men’s brotherhood, youth work night, men’s work night, youth missions, youth recreation, vacation bible school, Bible camp, youth Bible camp, city youth camp, country youth camp, state youth camp, international youth camp, and choir practice.¨ And he added, I haven’t been home in three months!"  (Victor Yap)

Ever feel that way? That you are doing a lot of really good and important things, like church activities, taking your children to soccer, baseball, swimming, scouts and piano lessons, working full time outside the home,  plus caring for an ailing parent, at the same time trying to get to the gym a couple days a week to work out.
You are faithful to each one and at the end of the day you ask…God, I wish there were 25 hours in a day. God I wish I could get at least one more hour of sleep a night. And although never actually voiced, we say in our heart of hearts, if I am not getting enough sleep, or recognition, or advancement, can I at least get a pin for my faithfulness?

You’re tired! Am I right? But you keep on keeping on… why? Because it’s what you do. And because you believe God is honored by all your activities. There is a term that is used more and more within the Christian community that was once used mainly in corporate America, the word is BURNOUT.
 
    Burnout happens when there is nothing left to fuel our life’s activities.
    Burnout happens when we have removed the space that was one used as a buffer between what we can and cant handle.
    Burnout happens when we constantly fail to meet impossible expectations and demands placed upon us by others..or by us.


You know Pastor, last week you said we should do more, we should all partner together for ministry here at CBC. Now, it sounds like you are saying we shouldn’t take on too much. Yes! I am saying that you should take on what God calls you to take on and nothing else. But I get ahead of myself…and the text.

Transition: What appears to be an insignificant visit from Moses’ father in law, was actually the work of the manifold grace of God. Thanks to the common sense of his father in law, Moses was saved from destruction once again…not from Egypt, not from Amelek, but from his own good intentions. Lets see what lessons we can learn from Moses and Jethro, his father in law. Turn to Ex. 18:1

1. Live as an example (Ex. 18:1-6)
Read: Ex. 18:1-6
The text begins by telling us that Jethro, Moses’ father in law, had heard all that had happened to Moses and the Israelites. How? It wasn’t like he could have just picked up a newspaper or heard it on the radio. He  probably gleaned information from travelers who would often share meals and shelter with him as they passed by his camp.  Without motels 6’s or Denny’s, hospitality was a necessity in that time.

Notice that Jethro had heard what God was doing in Moses life. It seems to me that Moses’ example and reputation was evident to all who saw him. His life was a testimony to what God was doing. His life was an example of his faith.

Read: Titus 2:6-7a: 'Encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good.'

Read: 1 Tim. 4:12: 'Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.'

How is your reputation? Your example?  When a friend, relative, co-worker or classmate hears your name, what do they think? Is your life an example of your faith?

Transition: A lesson learned from this father in law is that our reputation precedes us. Live an example of faith in Jesus Christ. Next, from Jethro’s visit we learn to…

2. Speak as one thankful (Ex. 18:7-12)
Read: Ex. 18:7-12

While living an example of our faith is important, so is speaking about our faith. Notice that after exchanging pleasantries, Moses and Jethro sit down to a meal, as was their custom, and Moses gets into the details of what God had been doing in his life and in the life of His people.

Moses didn’t tell Jethro all this because he wanted him to be better informed. No. I believe he told Jethro all that God had done, because he was so grateful for what God was doing. Moses spoke to Jethro because he was thankful for God presence, provision and power in his life.

And I want you to especially take note of Jethro’s response. ‘Jethro was delighted to hear all the good things the Lord had done’ Jethro gave praise to the Lord. He gave testimony of God’s greatness. Then, Jethro worshipped God with Moses.  When we share our life of thanks to God with others, don’t be surprised if they react like Jethro. Don’t be surprised if they want to know more about the God who you seem so thankful to be in relation with.  But, keep it to yourself and they won’t have the opportunity.

Moses’ life example of faith in God and his spoken testimony of thanks to God had a significant impact on Jethro’s life…his father in law…a relative. Aren’t relatives the hardest to reach for Christ? Why is that? Yes, it’s because they really know us. And for reason, we are more embarrassed to share our faith with our relatives, those we love, than with those who are strangers and don’t know us.

But, you may be thinking, Moses had a great reputation, he was a wonderful example of one who walked with God. Yes, to many, but Jethro also knew the other side of Moses that not everyone saw. Moses knew that Jethro knew, not everything in his life was God honoring. Yet, Moses still shared his faith in God with Jethro.

Transition: Moses’ life was an example of faith and his words a testimony of thanks to the God who was with him. Finally, our last lesson from a father in law is that we must …

3. Learn as one teachable (Ex. 18:13-27)
Read: Ex. 18:13-27

Here we see the first mention of bring your father in law to work day. Moses the next morning, although a gracious host, lets Jethro know that he needs to get back to work and invites him to come alone. Jethro agrees.

Jethro saw that Moses was taking on too much responsibility. He saw that in the everyday running of the life of Israel, Moses was not only the man…he was the ONLY man. Jethro saw what Moses couldn’t, Moses was close to burnout. Jethro then advises Moses to delegate, to share his duties with people of good character, people with high moral and spiritual standards.So, Jethro suggests to Moses that he give up some of his responsibility and share it with others. What does Moses do? What many of us would do..tell him ‘who does you think you are  coming in here and telling him me I have to make changes, stop doing things I have always been doing?’

Truth be told, some of us don’t like being told what to do, where to serve or how to do our ministry. Truth be told, some of us when it comes right down to it, are not very teachable. One of the things I appreciate about Gary and Wes and one of the reasons they are Elders here at CBC is…they are teachable. They are willing to consider when I make a suggestion concerning their ministry or service here at CBC. And when I ask them to give up something so that someone else can partner in ministry, they do it.

But they do what Jethro told Moses to do…check first with the Lord. Moses did and he delegated much of his duties so that he could concentrate on what God had truly called him to do: teach the people how to live as God’s people and tell them what God says.

Those of you who are partners in ministry here at CBC, please learn from Moses. Be teachable.
No matter who you are, me included, we can all learn from one another. We need fresh eyes to help us see what we often can not so we can avoid what Moses avoided…burnout in ministry.

Conclusion
I believe that while Moses accepted the advice of his father in law, he was undoubtedly caught off guard by it. Moses was out of margin in his life, the space between what he could handle and what he could not handle had quickly disappeared.

Moses was desperately trying to keep his head above water and he didn’t take the time to reflect on how his overburdened life was affecting not only himself but others. And this leads me back to vs 1-6.

Why was Moses family not with him? And why was it that Moses never sent for them to join him? Jethro, after spending a day at work with Moses knew the answer. Moses was too busy for his family. He couldn’t handle his work responsibilities and his family responsibilities, so he kept his family away.

Moses probably sent his family back to Jethro after the incident of the circumcision of his son. Remember Ex. 4? There was no warning to Jethro, no asking permission to care for his family, to raise his children. He just sent them. Perhaps not a great moment in Moses’ life. But it gets worse. Moses is so concerned with his work, a workaholic as we would say today, that he fails to send word to Jethro to inquire how his family is, let alone have them return to him. This is the area of Moses life that was not a good example and both he and Jethro knew it. Jethro, figuring things were now better, decided to bring Moses his family, without sending word first. Why? So Moses couldn’t say no. Because Moses’ family was Moses’ responsibility, not his father in laws. And burdened or not, Moses had to take responsibility for his family.

Often, when we find ourselves overworked, over burdened, over extended, our family is the first thing to be sacrificed.

    Are you so busy that you have crowed out God, your family and others from your life?

    Are you so busy that you are not willing to reflect on the godly advice others give you.

    Are you so busy that is negatively effecting how others see you?

    If you are, then you are too busy.