Sermon Series “Exodus”
Exodus 18:13-18
“Leadership God’s Way”
Pastor John Bright
Exodus 18 “13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until 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 difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.”
Open #1- Today is the Superbowl. The world will get to see the QB for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes. He is an amazing 25-year-old player who set a variety of records during the playoffs. Could he take on the San Francisco 49ers all by himself? Could one great player take on 11?
Open #2 – We had a successful stew and bake sale yesterday. Thanks to all who helped. I think we should have another one next month and don’t worry – we won’t ask all of you to wear yourselves out again. This time – Ralph and Debra Jo will do it all! Deb can cook all the chicken, peel the potatoes and chop all those onions (and bake all the cakes and pies). Ralph can stir both pots for hours and hours – we can put them closer together.
I know what you are thinking – NO WAY!
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We left the Israelites last week complaining and eating manna. Now they have their first battle.
Israel's First Battle - Ex. 17:8-16
• Amalekites attack the Israelites
• Moses stands on a hill with his staff raised and they win as the staff stays up
• Aaron and Hur hold up the hands of Moses as he grows tired
There will be more military battles during their 40 years in the wilderness and then more in the Promised Land. Here we see the pivotal role given to Moses - but he can never do all that needs to be done without help. Remember – Moses needed help speaking to the Israelites in Egypt so God gave him Aaron.
Today we are part of a denomination with many differing beliefs. We are still sorting out some of those and General Conference 2020 should help (hopefully). But we affirm a belief that is essential to how we view the Church… at least we are “supposed to.” Unfortunately, we have replaced it with a business model where clergy are the producers of ministry and laity are the consumers of ministry. This model always breaks down and it’s not the laity that are burning out at an alarming rate! We need to recover a belief in the Biblical model known as the Priesthood of All Believers.
1 Peter 2 "4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"
Here – he is not writing to one person (a pastor) but to the whole church. In this description of believers, the words “holy” and “royal” show us who we are because of our relationship to God through Jesus Christ. Then we are called a “priesthood” – that’s what we do. The Church is both – who we are and what we do.
Moses is now reunited with his family and father-in-law. Exodus 18:5 "and 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."
This is a good reminder, along with being tired in Exodus 17, that this mighty man of God is still a human being (approx.. 80 years old). God can us every believer - no matter the age - prayer/phone calls/ cards. Our older adult member could join us in ministry in so many ways. There are no “little” jobs in ministry and all are qualified.
1 Corinthians 1 "26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;"
Look at those qualifications – not wise – not mighty - not noble – foolish – weak. Does that list qualify you? It definitely qualifies me – for sure.
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Back to Exodus – There’s a Problem
Exodus 18:13 "And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening."
Moses thinks he had to do it all. Stop – think – who do you know like that? Very common in our world. Very common in the church.
Not much more to say on that… it is what it is.
Now we get to the solution -
Exodus 18 "21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you."
Does this sound familiar? It’s a description of the US Court system. The local courts here lots and lots of cases – speeding tickets and minor drug possession. Then the District Courts hear bigger cases and far fewer cases. Finally, a very few court cases make it to the Supreme Court. In this way of looking at it – Moses will become the supreme court for the Israelites in the wilderness.
I want to make 2 points here:
• There needs to be qualifications for leadership. We see here those who will join Moses in ruling on the law will “fear God”, be truthful, hate unjust gain/cheating others. We should look for these same qualifications in our local Church leaders.
• Some will have more responsibility than others. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the parable of the talents/minas. One got 5 large measures of gold. Another got 2 and one person got 1 large measure of gold. We know how that turned out. Today, people advocate for “equality of outcome.” In that way of thinking, it’s unfair that all the folks in the parable don’t get the same. But in our world and in the parable, we have equality of opportunity. If the person with one large measure of gold had returned more than he received then he would have received more responsibility - like the other two.
Everyone here today needs help – we all need God and we need others. It’s the same for the Church (we are the Church). So, my advice here for each of you and all y’all – put yourself in the place where you are open to God and others. Tear down those old walls and let folks in… let God into the dark corners. You never – never – never have to go it alone! Amen.
TEACHING SHEET
(date)
Sermon Series: Exodus
Exodus 18:13-18
“Leadership God’s Way”
Israel’s First Battle – Ex. 17:8-16
Amalekites attack the Israelites
Moses stands on a hill with his staff raised and they win as the staff stays up
Aaron and Hur hold up the hands of Moses as he grows tired
There will be more military battles during their 40 years in the wilderness and then more in the Promised Land. Here we see the pivotal role given to Moses – but he can never do all that needs to be done without help.
UMC – Priesthood of All Believers
1 Peter 2 “4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
Return of Jethro & Moses’ Family
Exodus 18:5 “and 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.”
This is a good reminder, along with being tired in Exodus 17, that this mighty man of God is still a human being ( pprox.. 80 years old). God can us every believer – no matter the age – prayer/phone calls/ cards.
1 Corinthians 1 “26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;”
The Problem
Exodus 18:13 “And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.”
The Solution
Exodus 18 “21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.”
WE ALL NEED HELP – GOD & OTHERS
YOU NEVER HAVE TO GO IT ALONE!
Next week – Ex. 19:1-25
