Barriers and Benefit of Wise Change
Exodus 18
Introduction:
A. How do you feel about Change?
I don’t know how you feel, but the older I get the more I dread change.
They divide people in several groups when it comes to change.
2.5% INNOVATORS
13.5 EARLY ADOPTERS
34% Early Majority
34% Late majority
16% Laggards
Bottom line is that 16% are quick to change and the rest take time to change.
B. There are several things I know about change.
Change is not easy-I don’t think any of us like change.
Change is necessary-all of us know down deep inside that change is important.
Change is a constant: “One man said that the only thing that you can count on is change.
C. Before I get too far into talking about change, where is an area in your life that you need to make changes?
Spiritual change, lifestyle change, a job change, habit change,
I think there should always be places in our lives where we are growing, improving and changing. If not then I think we are not being disciples (learners) of Christ.
D. Exodus 18 talks about Moses and how he had to face change.
Moses went to Pharaoh and said, Let my people go. Pharaoh laughed at him until God thumped him with 10 devastating plagues, the last one taking the life of his son. He allowed Israel to leave but thought twice about it and chased the people of Israel into a parted red sea and his army was destroyed.
Moses and Israel saw many miracles and had many victories and they were in a time of rest and recuperation when Jethro brought Moses’ wife and kids to him. Moses had left them behind when he confronted Pharaoh.
When Jethro arrived, he took him into his tent and bragged on all God did for Israel. Jethro was so excited about this that he made a sacrificed to the Lord.
(13-23) 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 instructions.”
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 his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 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.”
I love this, this 80+ guy is willing to be flexible and change.
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.
D. Lets look at this strategic moment in Moses’ and Israel’s life.
I. The Barriers to Wise Change
A. Pride-Why should I listen to Jethro?
God is doing all this cool things with Moses. Up to this point he really has only had wins. Everything seems to be working for him. Her come Jethro Bo Dean to tell him how to run his country.
It is easier to make changes when things are going poorly but much harder when things are rocking along pretty well. A wise leader-person makes changes and adjustments through out their lives.
B. Fear-What if this does not work?
Moses had to ask himself, what if this thing does not work? What is everyone going to say when I tell them that they need to go to someone else and besides me.
One of the reason we oppose change is because of fear. I know you are not going to believe this but there are churches that function and act just like they did 30, 40 and even 50 years ago because they are afraid to try new things.
C. Insecurity-Is it a good idea to empower others?
Moses was the leader. If you opposed him and God, bad things would happen. Moses was going to empower others and give them influence. This had to test his insecurity. Moses may have thoughts, “What if those who are over a thousand people get influence and oppose me?”
What I see in Western Colorado is that a church looks for a pastor. They say to the young pastor, “We want you to come in and help us reach young people.” He comes and begins to reach you people. The church begins to change and those same people who ask him to help them reach young people oppose the leader, because they are losing influence and they are not comfortable with change. This usually drives out the pastor and the church shrinks back to what it was or even shrinks smaller.
God may be asking you to change in your personal life and one of the areas you have to address is your insecurity.
As I was preparing this sermon in realize that one of the changes I need to make in my life is my weight. My doctor said you are fine but you are fat, and you need to do something about that. What I realized through this message is that food is a security blanket to me. It comforts, like Linus blanket, me and there is a piece of me that will have to face that insecurity if I am going to be able to win this battle.
What is insecurity is keeping you from making the changes you need to make?
D. Effort-It maybe easier to do it myself?
(24-25) 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.
Theologians have speculated that maybe 2 million people left Egypt. That means that he had to select and train over 200,000 leaders. That had to feel overwhelming to him.
Some one once said that people usually will not change until the pain of staying the same is greater then pain of changing.
Years ago I made the change to on line banking and checks. Traci and I own rentals and we would write many checks every month. The learning curve from moving from writing a check and to on line banking took extra time and head aches in the bigginning but has saved us thousands of ours and a lot of money since.
Wise change can be a little painful in the beginning but it can be the best way to go in the long run.
E. Familiarity-“I am enjoying what I am doing”
Even though his pace of life was not healthy or good for him, his family, or Israel, it may have felt normal and comfortable. There is something exhilarating about being busy and needed, and that can be a barrier to wise change.
If you listen to people in America, what do you here all the time, “I am too busy.” But they usually don’t ever make changes in their lifestyle to slow down. They are addicted to that lifestyle. Others are in the opposite realm. They know they should be more involved in ministry or the community but they are addicted to a self centered, stay at home life style.
Familiarity can be a barrier in us making a change.
II. The Benefits of Wise Change.
A. It is more efficient
Jethro says in 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.”
I think most rational people look at this story and conclude that this was a wise decision.
“Many hands make light the work.”
One of the good things that have had to happen here at GMBC, since you have been without a pastor, is that you have all taken responsibility and have spread out the workload among yourselves. One thing I caution you about is that you don’t dump everything back on the new pastor, when he comes. That will be a mistake. Yes he will take on a few things but there is something good about having many people serving in a church.
B. It is more effective
People were taken care of quicker, and they were able to get a more personal touch.
23 Jethro says, If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
One of the great things about small groups and deacon family ministry is that enables people to be taken care of more effectively, if people do what they are suppose to do.
Traci and I have a house church that meets in our home. Over time we have become close. We care for each other, pray for each other and help each other.
There are over 50 “one another” commands in the NT. Almost everyone is fulfilled in in a small group.
Love one another honor one another
Be devoted to one another accept one another
Teach one another serve one another
Carry one another’s burdens
Submit to one another
The wisest thing Moses could have done was break up people of Israel into smaller groups, so they could be cared for more effectively.
C. More people got to use their gifts and talents
1. Thousands of people were given the opportunity to serve and lead, rather then just one.
2. Moses was able to do what he was called to do.
Jethro said to Moses, “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 his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.”
Moses was able to function in his call and gifting.
D. Great preparation for the future.
Israel will be in the promise land and they will need leaders to govern throughout the region.
In the short run it may have seemed to be easier to keep doing what he was doing but it was not the best thing to do in the long run.
The benefit of wise change is that it prepares God’s people for the future.
What changes do you need to make for the future, as an individual and as a church?
