“Into the Wilderness”
A Sermon Series in the Book of Exodus
“The Result of Telling of the Greatness of God”
Exodus 18
Introduction
Many years ago some men were panning for gold in Montana, and one of them found an unusual stone. Breaking it open, he was excited to see that it contained gold. Working eagerly, the men soon discovered an abundance of the precious metal. Happily, they began shouting with delight, “We’ve found it! We’ve found gold! We’re rich!” They had to interrupt their celebrating, though, to go into a nearby town and stock up on supplies. Before they left camp, the men agreed not to tell a soul about their find. Indeed, no one breathed a word about it to anyone while they were in town. Much to their dismay, however, when they were about to return, hundreds of men were prepared to follow them. When they asked the crowd to tell who “squealed,” the reply came, “No one had to. Your faces showed it!”[1]
When we experience what God has done in our lives, and understand its’ eternal significance, we can’t help but to tell others. God desires to use us, and our testimony of His greatness, to bring others to know Him. But sometimes that weight feels very heavy.
Prayer
We Are to Bear Witness of God’s Greatness (vv. 1-9)
Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.
Our first question that helps us understand the text is, “What does it mean to be a priest of Midian?” This is how the text starts out; it tells us that he is a priest. “The Midianites first appear in Bible in connection with the sale of Joseph (Gen. 37:25-36).” . . . “The Midianites appear in connection with Israel’s attempt to penetrate the Transjordan region after the wilderness wanderings. The elders of Midian and the Moabites conspired against Israel and secured the services of Balaam to curse Israel (Nu. 22:4-7) . . . Midianite women were also involved in attempt to lead Israel into apostacy (Nu. 25:1-9). Although the attempt failed, the Midianites were linked firmly with paganism of Baal-poer; consequently the Midianites were considered the enemy of both Israel and Yahweh.”[2] So when it says that Jethro was a priest, he was the priest of a pagan religion.
Witness #1 Of God’s Greatness; the Grandson’s names.
At some point after the Red Sea Crossing, maybe when God’s people were attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8 ff.), Moses sent his wife and children back to her home (which wasn’t very far away), and it was Moses’ home for forty-years. Now his father-in-law, wife (Zipporah), and his two sons return. Moses names his sons, “The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). The son’s names tell Moses’ story – There was a time when he did not fit in Egypt (because he was a Hebrew), and he did not fit among his people, because he was culturally Egyptian. But God appeared to him, and called him, and now he is free, no longer a slave. When Zipporah went back home and said here is Gershom, and here is Eliezer – their names would have told a story.
Witness #2 of God’s Greatness; The Mountain of God
“where he was encamped at the mountain of God.” Exodus 3:12 After Moses had given an excuse at the burning bush God said to him “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” Moses had led the people out of Egypt, and now he is encamped on the very mountain where it all started at the burning bush; God had kept His word to Moses.
Witness #3 of God’s Greatness; Moses
“Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done . . .” Moses loved is father-in-law, and every time we see them encountering each other, it is one of respect and compassion. When Moses ran for his life and originally escaped from Egypt it was Jethro that showed him compassion. Exodus 2:19-21 “They said, “An Egyptian (that’s Moses) delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah.”
So, Moses tells him all that God had done, the miraculous signs (he would have been holding his staff as he talked), the plagues, their preparations of the Passover meal, God’s leading them with a pillar of smoke during the day, and fire by night, the splitting of the Red Sea, the final defeat of Pharoah’s army, the daily provision of manna and quail, and their defeat of the Amalekites.
Romans 10:14-15 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?3 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” How will the Jethros of this world hear of the mighty deeds of God unless we, His people, tell them?
After Jesus healed the demoniac in Mark 5:18-19, look what he tells him, “As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Our witnessing starts at home. For Moses, it was his father-in-law.
The Response to the Testimony – Belief (vv. 9-12)
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”[3] 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
(v. 9) “And Jethro rejoiced” – In response to all that God had done, Jethro responded with praise, blessings, and belief. He says, (v. 11) “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods,.” Jethro is a pagan outsider who sees what God has done for His people and he is attracted to that light. He sees what God is doing amongst His people, and He wants to be apart of it.
Then it was the man who accepted the one true God has being greater than all other gods, the one who had placed his faith in the God of Israel – he brought a “burnt offering and sacrifices.” This is a meal of celebration for what God has done in his heart, and how he has delivered his own family (Moses and Zipporah). The burnt offering is a thanksgiving for his and his family’s deliverance.
Jethro is a non-Israelite who put his faith in the One True God (who had shown his power over the gods of Egypt). Remember the Egyptians who went with the Israelites as they left in the Exodus, Ex. 12:38 “A mixed multitude also went up with them,” as they left Egypt. In Genesis 12:3 God promises Abraham that He would bless him, and “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
All the families of the earth are blessed by having a relationship with the One True God – it would be God’s people (the Israelites) that would serve as a nation of priests, pointing the world to God. Jethro was the first fruits, the beginning of the world being attracted to God because of what God did through His people.
God desires to draw the world to Himself
by demonstrating His power through His people.
We Are to Share in the Responsibility of Being the People of God (vv. 13-23)
13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
In chapter 18 you have two events happening with Jethro being apart of both events. One is Moses’s family is reunited including Jethro’s response to the works of God linked with the daily carrying out of the responsibility given to Moses by God. If now Moses is reunited with his family, how will he ever see them, for “the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.” God gives us the gift of family and service to God – He expects us to find a way to balance the two in a healthy and sustainable way. He has already given the people the Sabbath (on the seventh day they are to rest from all work).
In chapter 17 as Joshua was battling the Amalekites, Hur and Aaron were on either side of lifting up his hands, Exodus 17:12 “But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” We see Moses sitting, tired, and needing help to do the task. Here in second half of chapter 18, we see Moses tired, sitting from early to late – he needs help to accomplish the task set before him.
Leaders who seek to do it all – don’t see their families and are always exhausted.
(v. 18) “for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.
Jethro watches is son-in-law and how he is exhausted, and he gives him some good advice, “get some help.” He sees that he cannot keep doing this, “you will certainly wear yourselves out.” Today we call this burn out. When you carry all the weight, and go at it from morning to night – if you do that too long you will crash and burn.
God uses Jethro’s to give Moses some helpful advice, “I will give you advice, and God be with you!” God speaks directly to Moses (first in the burning bush). Moses will soon go up on the mountain and get the ten commandments, God will talk directly to Moses – why does God go through this new believer to give Moses these instructions?[4] Moses could have said, “Excuse me, I have been through the Red Sea, I have appeared before pharaoh, God talked to me in the burning bush – if God wants to give me advice he will tell me, not you.” God chooses to include us, our gifts, our separate life experiences, together to complete the task He sets before us. Moses was wise enough and humble enough to learn from his father-in-law and listen to him.
(v. 21) “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people. . .” Amongst God’s people were able men, they were there all the time, Moses just had to look.[5] But they were not just able bodied (not just a warm body), they were also, “men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe.”
The Result of What God Can Do When We Listen (vv. 24-27)
24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.
In a couple of days Jethro went from a pagan priest, who then placed his faith in the one true God, who then was used by God to give advice to a leader, who then implemented the advice and it changed the lives of over a million people. This one encounter set the nation up for what was to come in chapter 19 (they becoming a nation of priests who will be given the Word of God). Moses couldn’t leave justice undone[6] and go up on the mountain to talk with God – chaos would have erupted.
Jethro listened to the stories of God’s miracles, Moses listened to the advice of his father-in-law, and the people listened to the new way of doing things – resulting in rest for everyone, no one was left standing around all day waiting, the leader wasn’t exhausted at the end of the day and could focus on other things (like his family being back, and God calling him up the mountain). The result was peace and rest. When we listen – there is peace and rest.
God wants His People to Listen.
On X (formerly known as Twitter), the account for Elmo, the red Muppet from Sesame Street, asked what seemed to be a simple, innocuous question. “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” In thousands of responses, social media users let Elmo know that no, they were not doing too hot. Users began pouring out their hearts to Elmo: “I’m tired, Elmo,” said one user. “The world is burning around us, Elmo,” said another. “Elmo I’m depressed and broke,” one wrote. Others told Elmo that they were anxious about the 2024 election. “Each day the abyss we stare into grows a unique horror, one that was previously unfathomable in nature,” replied author Hanif Abdurraqib. “However, I did have a good grapefruit earlier, thanks for asking.”
“I don’t think anyone anticipated how deeply this particular question would resonate,” said Samantha Maltin, a marketing officer for the Sesame Workshop. Maltin believes that Elmo’s question provoked a lot of feelings because his character is rooted in the nostalgic memories of so many millennials. After about nine thousand responses in about 24 hours, the account posted again. “Wow! Elmo is glad he asked!” it read. “Elmo learned it is important to ask a friend how they are doing.”[7]
Do you feel that you are carrying the weight of the world? Do you feel that it is up to you alone to solve all the problems? God wants to reach the world – but you don’t have to do it alone.
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[1] https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/w/witnessing.htm
[2] Geoffrey W. Bromiley, General Editor, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume Three (Grand Rapids, Michigan; W.M. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986) 349.
[3] Naaman had a similar response to the miraculous acts of God; see 2 Kings 5, “And he (Naaman) said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; . . .”
[4] Peter Enns, The NIV Application Commentary, Exodus (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing House, 2000) 372.
[5] 1 Samuel 14:52 “There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.”
[6] Martin Luther King, “There can be no peace in the world unless there’s justice, and there can be no justice without peace. I think in a sense these problems are inextricably bound together.” A people who feel they have no means of justice will protest/react which leads to a lack of peace. Where all feel there is equal justice, then there is peace amongst the people.
[7] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2024/march/people-express-deep-despair-to-elmo.html
