Introduction:
A. Standing on the tee of a relatively long par three, a confident golfer said to his caddy, “Looks like a four-wood and a putt to me.”
1. The caddy disagreed with him a bit and advised that he, instead, play it safe and hit a four-iron then a wedge.
2. The golfer was insulted and proceeded to yell at the caddy telling him that he was a better golfer than that and how dare the caddy underestimate his game.
3. So, giving in, the caddy handed the gentleman the four-wood he had asked for.
4. The golfer proceeded to top the ball and watched as it rolled about fifteen yards off the front of the tee. It was still about 200 yards from the hole.
5. Immediately the caddy handed him his putter and said, “And now here’s the putter for your putt...”
B. How good are you at receiving and following advice?
1. If you are like me, then sometimes it’s a struggle.
2. Sometimes our pride kicks in and we don’t want it to look like we don’t know what we are doing, so we ignore the advice and often regret it.
C. In the part of the story of Moses we are going to consider today, we will see that Moses was stressed out and overloaded.
1. Someone close to Moses is going to come along with some advice about the situation.
2. How will Moses respond? Will he take the advice or reject it?
3. Let’s take a look at the story and see what we can learn from it.
I. The Story
A. Our story begins with a visit by Moses’ father-in-law.
1. Such a visit might raise the blood pressure of those who view their spouse’s parents as outlaws, rather than in-laws.
2. But that was not the case with Moses, it appears that over the years, his father-in-law had become one of his best friends.
3. The Bible says: 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. (Ex. 18:5-7)
4. Now that’s what I would call a warm greeting.
5. Moses hadn’t seen Jethro, his father-in-law, for an extended period of time, and Israel’s leader was ecstatic that his father-in-law had come with Moses’ wife and children for a family reunion.
6. Soon the two men began to talk about all that God had done in Moses’ life since he had left the desert of Midian to go to Egypt.
7. The Bible says: 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them. (Ex. 18:8)
B. I want you to notice how Jethro responded to his son-in-law. He showed not an ounce of jealousy, rather Jethro rejoiced over what had happened
1. The Bible says: 9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” (Ex. 18:9-11)
2. Then, in good priestly fashion, Jethro topped off the day by offering sacrifices.
3. The Bible says: 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God. (Ex. 18:12)
4. What a beautiful picture of family harmony – here we have in-laws and family members and friends who have come to eat together and to rejoice in God’s mighty works.
5. It is a wonderful thing to be rightly related to others, especially family!
C. After the joy of this happy reunion, Jethro began to observe Moses in his ministry and leadership.
1. Let’s stop and take a look at what Jethro observed. The Bible says: 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?” (Ex. 18:13-14)
2. Have you ever noticed how a visitor can walk into a situation and sometimes offer an insight that has never occurred to those who have been on the scene for years?
3. Some person fresh off the streets could come into our church building and innocently offer a suggestion, like: “Have you ever considered doing so and so? Just a thought – it might streamline the operation, or be a better use of the space.
4. We might look at each other and say, “Why didn’t we think of that?”
5. If someone were to shadow us for a day or a week and watch what we do, it is quite likely that they could help us perform our tasks in a better, more innovative way.
D. So that’s what happened with Jethro.
1. He watched as his son-in-law took his seat as judge.
2. He watched the long line develop that stretched out of sight as the people stood in the sun waiting for their turn to hear Moses’ counsel.
3 This observation caused Jethro to raise two very good questions – questions he asked Moses at the first opportunity.
4. Jethro asked him:
a. “What is this thing you’re doing?”
b. “Why do you do it all alone?”
5. The first question relates to priorities, and the second question relates to personnel.
6. These two questions can be very helpful to us as we examine our own lives.
a. We need to ask ourselves: “What am I doing with my time? What are my priorities?
b. And we need to ask ourselves: “Why am I doing so many things alone? Why don’t I allow others to assist me? Are there others I should be training to take over those responsibilities?
E. So how did Moses respond to his father-in-law’s questions?
1. To his great credit, Moses gave Jethro’s questions real consideration – he didn’t just blow it off by saying, “Whatever, old man!”
2. Moses gave Jethro an honest and straightforward answer, the Bible says: 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.” (Ex. 18:15-16)
3. You can’t really find fault with Moses’ response – it was the plain truth.
4. He wasn’t rationalizing and he wasn’t defensive.
5. He simply said, “Look, I’ve got a big job. It’s as simple as that. I’m called by God to be the judge and to serve over these people. They have complaints and I’m the complaint department.”
F. How did Jethro respond to Moses’ answer? He responded in a direct and caring way.
1. The Bible says: 17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.” (Ex. 18:17)
a. To say something like this took courage.
b. It would be like you or me stepping into the White House to give the president some pointers.
c. In many respects, Jethro’s comments took even more courage than approaching the president, because Moses as not an elected official, but an appointed one, and the one who appointed him was none other than God, himself!
d. Yet Jethro dared to say to Moses, “What you’re doing isn’t good. I don’t like what I’m seeing here.”
2. Keep in mind that Jethro knew Moses pretty well.
a. Moses had worked for him for 40 years.
b. Jethro knew Moses’ tendencies. He knew his work habits. He knew his strengths and weaknesses.
c. So Jethro didn’t hold back, he boldly confronted Moses.
3. Jethro continued: 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.” (Ex. 18:18)
a. Obviously, Jethro cared about Moses and his daughter who was married to Moses.
b. He was concerned that Moses was working himself to exhaustion, and that he was going to burnout or have a nervous breakdown from the stress.
c. So it is obvious that Jethro isn’t just trying to be a “know-it-all,” but that he has a sincere interest in Moses’ well-being.
d. Jethro didn’t just stick his bony finger in Moses’ face and demand, “You listen up, whippersnapper! I have something to say to you!”
e. Jethro was wiser than that.
4. Jethro said: 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you…” (Ex. 18:19a)
a. In other words, Jethro said, “Son, I’m going to tell you what I think might work better for you, but may God give you the wisdom to do what’s right.”
b. It is always a good idea to look to God and trust Him to give us wisdom and discernment.
G. Jethro then gave Moses two very valuable pieces of advice.
1. First, Jethro suggested that Moses should make teaching a priority.
a. Jethro said: “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. (Ex. 18:19b-20)
b. Moses did have a responsibility to teach the people the laws and decrees of the Lord.
c. That ministry was something that he had to do – it was a responsibility he could not let slide.
2. Second, Jethro suggested that Moses should delegate some of the workload.
a. Jethro said: “ 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.” (Ex. 18:21-23)
b. So Jethro suggested that good delegation would have two wonderful benefits.
1. First, It would make the load lighter for Moses – it would make things easier for him.
2. Second, It would bring up the satisfaction level of the people.
a. Do any of you enjoy waiting in a long line at the grocery store? Or do you like to wait a long time at the doctor’s office?
b. I’m sure the people waiting to see Moses were not happy with the long delays.
H. So how did Moses react to Jethro’s ideas and suggestions?
1. The good news is found in verse 24: 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. (Ex. 18:24)
2. Moses’ father-in-law said, “Listen to me, Moses,” and Moses listened.
3. Moses’ father-in-law said, “Do this, Moses,” and Moses did it.
4. That’s one of the reasons why, by the time Moses’ life ended, the Bible says: “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” (Num. 12:3)
5. No man or woman is so great that he or she cannot learn from someone who has their good at heart.
6. He listened to his father-in-law, and he was a better man for it.
I. Scripture tells us that Moses put Jethro’s good counsel to work right away: 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. (Ex. 18:25-26)
1. Notice the important ways that Moses implemented Jethro’s advice:
a. First, he chose capable people – this is the most critical step.
b. Second, he got them organized.
c. Third, he encouraged them to pass on the most difficult cases to him.
J. So how does the story end?
1. The Bible says: 27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country. (Ex. 18:27)
2. What an important and helpful visit it had been.
3. Not only was Moses encouraged and made more effective, but others were allowed to share in the leadership, and the people began to be ministered to in a far more efficient way.
II. The Application
A. So what can we learn and apply from today’s Scripture section?
1. This part of the story reveals at least four principles or practical insights for bringing our lives back into balance.
B. First of all, we learn that wise people acknowledge limitations.
1. All of us have our limitations, don’t we? Can we acknowledge that, and come to grips with that? Can we plan accordingly?
2. Just because we know the Lord and are trying to serve Him doesn’t mean that we are exempt from natural laws.
3. Our bodies need a certain amount of work, exercise, rest, and replenishment.
4. If we disregard that balance, then something is going to break down or snap.
5. If we burn the candle at both ends, then we shorten the life of the candle.
6. Jethro saw that Moses needed to get things back into balance and he told him so – had Moses not done so it would have worn him out.
7. Because he did listen, and did put things in a better balance listen to what Scripture had to say about him at the end of his life: 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. (Deut. 34:7)
8. We need to keep in mind that there is nothing spiritual about a heart attack, or an early grave.
C. Second, we learn that wise people determine priorities.
1. As I said a minute ago, we have our limitations – we can’t do it all.
2. Therefore, we must determine how best to spend our limited time.
3. What are the essential things? What are the incidental things? What are the additional things.
4. We must learn to separate the one from the other, and be sure we have the right focus and concentration on the most important things.
D. Third, we learn that wise people share the load.
1. I love the passage from Eccl. 4: 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Eccl. 4:9-12)
2. We really do need each other - and there is no great reward for doing it alone, and no great penalty for letting others help.
3. Because the church is the body of Christ made up of many parts, then each part must be allowed to do its part, or the body is not healthy or effective.
4. In science this is called the principle of synergism – which basically boils down to the idea that two people working together can accomplish more than two people working separately.
a. A good illustration of this can be seen at horse pulling contests.
b. The winning horse in one contest pulled 9 thousand pounds all by himself.
c. The runner up pulled 8 thousand pounds by himself.
d. Together you would expect them to pull 17 thousand pounds, but not so!
e. When the two horses were teamed together, they pulled 30 thousand pounds – nearly twice as much as separately.
5. Learning to work together and to delegate is critical to our effectiveness in all aspects of life.
E. Finally, we learn that wise people keep their ego in check.
1. Moses shows such wisdom and character by the way he received his father-in-law’s advice.
2. We would do well to follow his example.
3. How sad it is when ego gets in the way of hearing the sincere advice and constructive criticism of others.
4. How foolish we are when we live in a way that makes us unapproachable and overly defensive.
5. When a trusted friend or counselor suggests that it is time to make a change, we need to listen.
6. Solomon, the wise man of the Old Testament wrote: 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. (Proverbs 19:20)
F. I trust that our examination of Exodus 18 has benefitted all of us, regardless of our life or job situations. All of us can benefit from learning how to accept advice and share the load.
1. May God bless us and help us as we try to learn these lessons and apply these principles.
Resources:
Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication, by Charles Swindoll, Word Publishing, 1999
The Art of Delegation, Sermon by Brent Baker, SermonCentral.com
Wise Advice, Sermon by Jeff Strite, SermonCentral.com
