The Great Teacher Learns
(Exodus 18)
1. This coming week is teacher’s appreciation week.
2. The number of all teachers in the United States is 6.2 million, and that does not include home-schooling parents! About 71% are female.
3. One of the greatest legends in teaching was a 17th century Czech man named Jan Komensky. He is sometimes called Comenius. He promoted the idea of universal education for all, came up with the idea of illustrated textbooks and interlinear books with columns in two languages -- and a host of other teaching innovations. He was also a man of God and leader among the Bohemian Brethren, the group that sent out the first modern missionaries.
4. But until the appearance of Jesus Christ, many of us would consider Moses the greatest teacher who ever lived.
5. But, despite Moses great mind and ability, he was humble and teachable. As one sage said, "I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma." ~Eartha Kitt
6. Being teachable means being willing and eager to grow; be willing to grow means being willing to change.
Main Idea: If we are secure in our walk with God, we are free to consider potentially positive changes.
I. Moses REUNION With His Family (1-8)
A. Moses family had been left BEHIND
• we deduce this from 8:24-27
• The battle was now over; Rephidim is alongside Mt. Sinai; Jethro and family were not doubt aware that the battle was raging…now that the Amalekites have retreated, it is safe to bring out the family…
1. If you want an awesome thought, think about the changes Zipporah and Moses’ sons saw in Moses
2. He left a shepherd who had seen a burning bush; He arrives with 2 million people, the leader of a nation, and noted as God’s spokesman…
3. The simple pastoral life was gone forever…
4. Moses had two major upheavals: when he was younger, escaping Egypt, and now
5. But he needed both experiences: the principles of leadership he gained as Pharaoh’s adopted son, and the patience he learned taking care of stubborn sheep…
B. He updates JETHRO
1. Jethro represents a non-Jew who believes in the God of Israel and cast His lot with the Jewish people, though he is a Midianite…
2. Jethro was a man of great sense, and he added to Moses’ personal capital
3. Jethro had been party to much of Moses’ life and was a needed "outside" consultant
4. Business consultants, like Peter Drucker, have longed used Jethro’s advice to Moses as an example for corporate organization…
If we are secure in our walk with God, we are free to consider potentially positive changes.
Because Moses was secure in his relationship with God, he was free to be at ease with Jethro; Jethro was not a competitor for influence upon his wife or family; he was in God’s hands
II. Jethro’s CONFESSION: Yahweh is Greatest (9-12)
A. Jethro acknowledges YAHWEH’S greatness (9-11)
• Was Jethro monotheistic or henotheistic?
• Psalm 86:8, 10
B. Jethro offers a SACRIFICE to Yahweh (12)
1. Fascinating that Aaron, who would soon become the high priest, attended Jethro’s sacrifice
2. People worshipped the true God before Moses
3. Remember, God has always had a remnant of people faithful to Him; the narrowest it ever became was Noah’s family…but usually more than we think
If we are secure in our walk with God, we are free to consider potentially positive changes.
• Even though Jethro was a priest of Yahweh at Midian, he realized he has a lot to learn; he also recognizes that God has a greater hand of blessing upon Moses than upon him … and he is okay with that!
• It can be hard, but we need to rid ourselves of a competitive attitude when it comes to the Kingdom of God…
• Instead, we need to compete with our own selves… our spiritual maturity level
• Does it irk you when you share Christ with someone and they have no interest, and then someone else shares Christ with that person and they get saved?
• Would it bother you if your children grew up to be more spiritual than you?
• Does it frustrate you if God blesses another church in some way more than He blesses ours? Do you want to see other good churches in our area prosper?
• Are you a consumer Christian, always looking for greener pastures and pitting one church against another?
III. Moses’ Problem and Jethro’s ADVICE (13-27)
A. The PROBLEM: Moses was doing it all (13-16)
1. Where did Moses get God’s decrees? Law not yet given?
2. Best answer: Exodus 15:25-26
3. The Targum of Jonathan on Exodus 15:25b-26, "25. And Mosheh prayed before the Lord, and the Word of the Lord showed him the tree of Ardiphne, and he cast it into the midst of the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There did the Word of the Lord show unto him statutes and orders of judgment, and there He tried him with trials in the tenth trial. 26. For I am the Lord who healeth thee by My Word. And they came to Elim; and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, a fountain for each tribe; and seventy palm?trees, corresponding with the seventy elders of Israel: and they encamped there by the waters."
4. This instruction, sort of a "proto-Torah" might be where the mysterious "Tent ofMeeting" originated…not to be confused with the Tabernacle
5. Exodus 33:7, "Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ’tent of meeting.’ Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp."
B. Jethro’s advice: DELEGATION (17-23)
Roddy Chestnut points out: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways, and be wise" (Prov. 6:6).??? In your typical, garden-variety ANT COLONY, there are basically three different types of ants:?1) QUEEN: lays eggs; insures future of ant colony.?2) MALES: fertilize eggs. 3) WORKERS: Food-finders; Nest-carers; Nurses; Cow-keepers.?? Each does job suited to help the ant colonies thrive!?1) Ants are wise! Organized! Divide their work!?2) Each has a function to perform and performs it well.? (Source: Sermoncentral)
Qualifications for leading elders similar in a sense to NT elders…
1. CAPABLE (discerning/sensible)
2. FEARED God (spiritually mature)
3. TRUSTWORTHY (character)
4. Not tempted by MONEY
• Note: this is not as applicable to the church; in the church, we are under the leadership of Christ and each have our own ministries; we are not helping the pastor with his ministry (usually), but rather having our own ministry; the pastor was never intended to do it all…
C. Moses takes his advice -- LATER (24-27)
(see Deuteronomy 1:5-15)
1. We do not usually need to accept or reject good advice at once…
2. One big mistake people make is making split decisions immediately…the other mistake is putting them off too long….
If we are secure in our walk with God, we are free to consider potentially positive changes.
CONCLUSION
1. If we are secure in our walk with God, we will be open to consider advice -- even if we do not take it.
2. Jesus Christ wants to reign in your life. That means you have to be open to change, because growth requires change.
3. So many Christians do not want to launch out in faith for anything. They cower in the protective corner of routine and doing things the same way all the time. They are insecure in their walk with God. And they are, therefore, closed to growth.
4. So cultivate that deeper relationship with God through His Son. Get involved in ministries that will stretch and develop you. Make the effort. Read the Word. Pray. Talk about the things of God. Find more and more security in Christ, and you will no longer be as threatened by spiritual growth.
