A Feather in the Wind

The Lord wants His people to live in peace

Do you know that the movie “Forrest Gump” came out in 1994?

I would be concerned about using a movie illustration from 30 years ago except for one fact.

If you do like I have done - and I’m sure you do - you are bored and there’s nothing on TV

So you start scrolling, sooner or later you’re going to run into “Forrest Gump.”

It would not surprise me if it has played every day some where for the last 30 years.

You may remember from the movie the little white feather.

As the movie opens - Forrest is sitting on a bench in Savannah, Georgia waiting on a bus.

A single little feather carried by the breeze falls and lands at Forrest’s foot.

He sees it, picks it up and puts it in his favorite book - Curious George.

At the end of the movie, Forrest is sitting on a bench in Greenbow, Alabama watching little Forrest’s school bus drive away.

The wind picks up a single small white feather and floats it away in the breeze.

The feather begs the question - are we simply creatures of chance, blown around by the wind

Or are we something more?

Our text today will give us some insight into this question.

Turn with me if you will to Exodus 18 beginning with the 13th verse.

While you are looking, let me talk to the kids for just a moment.

Kids, you hear a lot that Jesus loves you and wants you to be a follower of him forever.

But following Jesus is more than just you following him.

It’s us following Him.

Because what the Lord has done for us, He’s done it for us together.

That’s why its so important for us to be in church.

When we are together, we can see how God is working in all of our lives to make our world a peaceful place.

Church is so important.

And the Lord loves His church so much.

As you listen today, listen real hard to hear how God puts things in place to make all of our lives peaceful.

The three words to help you listen are Justice, Peace and Lord.

Alright church, follow along with me as we read from Exodus 18:13-27.

Hear now the Word of the Lord.

Exodus 18:13–27 ESV

The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 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?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 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.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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. 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.” So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 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. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

So our story opens and it’s the day after Jethro becomes a believer in Yahweh.

Remember, Jethro is Moses’ father-in-law and he’s brought Moses’ wife Zipporah and their two kids back to Moses

After Moses returned from Egypt.

In the story, Jethro shows up and hears the story of how Yahweh delivered Israel and Jethro immediately follows Yahweh.

They have a big feast and go to bed stuffed and happy.

But now it’s the next day and there is no rest for the weary.

All day long, a long line of people wait on Moses to help them solve their problems with their neighbors.

All day long, some of them waited.

And when the sun was going down, and Moses called it a day - there were still some people waiting in line.

Can you imagine?

It’s worse than going to the DMV.

There was just too much for Moses to do in a single day.

So why didn’t Moses do something?

I have a great question - why don’t we?

We do the same thing as Moses don’t we?

We get so focused on getting the job done.

We get up, go to work, come home, get the kids in bed, go to bed, get up, go to work

And we’re stressed and we do what we need to do to get the job done, don’t we?

We call that being on the treadmill.

Nothing wrong with that except it kills our spirit - it wears us out.

It was killing Moses.

Now, if you believe that we are a feather blown by the wind of fate, you’ll consider Moses very lucky that his pa-in-law just chanced by.

But I don’t believe that.

Jethro came when Jethro came because the Lord prompted him to come at that moment.

God, in His providence, sends us help when we are most ready to accept it. V. 17-18

Look at verses 17-18 Exodus 18:17–18 “Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 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.”

There is a saying we use that sounds biblical but it most assuredly is not.

The saying is, “God will not give us more than we can handle.”

If that is true, why is Moses being told by his pa-in-law that “You are not able to do it alone.”

Remember the scope of what we’re talking about.

There were hundreds of thousands of people - and Moses.

If one tenth of one percent of the people had something they needed help with

That’s at least 500 people a day.

Waiting in line from dawn until dark.

You’ve waited in line at Wal-mart, right?

You’re behind the lady with the kid that’s tired of being there.

And they lady swears the sign said $1.89 and not $1.98.

And then she starts to pay and she pulls out her checkbook.

And you and your bottle of lemon juice, the one thing you forgot to pick up the day before

You and your juice just stand there listening.

Tell me, how does that waiting in line thing work?

“You and your people will certainly wear yourselves out.”

“You are not able to do it alone.”

Moses had to get to the end of himself.

He was swamped - absolutely overwhelmed with the task at hand.

And it was at that moment - when Moses knew he was over his head and needed help

It was at that moment the Lord sent Jethro.

That’s happened to us too, hasn’t it?

That the Lord rescued us at just the right moment.

He does that for His children.

But now, is that all?

Is it just that the Lord hates long lines at the checkout?

What is the Lord concerned with here?

Look at verse 16 Exodus 18:16 “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.””

The people are coming because they have disputes and they want to know what God’s answer to them are.

In one simple word, they want justice. v.16

The Lord is a God of justice.

I don’t think we think enough of that.

Things happen to people around us that are injust and we say “that’s horrible” and then we move on.

But the Lord doesn’t think that way.

In Deuteronomy, Moses says, Deuteronomy 16:20

Deuteronomy 16:20 ESV

Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

To have a peaceful land, you must have justice.

We have a saying, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

It’s not that God is irked because people are having to stand in line.

God is concerned for them because He knows, for them to live peaceably, they must see their concerns handled with justice.

Everyone wants to be heard and everyone wants to be treated fairly, don’t we?

So instead of a grand pronouncement on high, the Lord sends Jethro to simply lay out the plan.

To have justice you must have three things: Truth, Righteous Judges and Order

Look at v. 20 Exodus 18:20 “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.”

“You shall warn them...”

The word warn means to be warned or be taught.

Moses, first thing, you must teach them truth; what is right and what is wrong in God’s eyes.

The vast majority of people want to do the right thing - they simply have to know what the right thing is.

A big mistake for our schools was the misinterpretation of the establishment clause in the Bill of Rights.

Think with me for a moment - it’s late at night and a giant thunderstorm just knocked all of the power out.

You have a flashlight in your hand and it lights up the room.

Pay attention next time this happens, it’s really amazing how much light a single flashlight will make when the room is pitch dark.

Now, you shut the light off and what happens.

Darkness covers everything.

We pulled the light out of our schools - what did we expect would happen?

In order to do right, you must know what right is.

In order for the Israelites or anyone for that matter to know which way we should walk and what we must do

We have to know the rules.

The rules - listen, listen - the rules are a gift of God’s graciousness.

He knows where the dangers are, just like a dad knows where the dangers are for his child

The Lord points the dangers out so that we don’t get hurt.

Listen, if I’m going to jump out of an airplane, I need someone who knows what the dangers are to point them out to me.

Otherwise, the last sound I’ll hear in life is a gigantic splat.

Life is one long parachute jump - we need to know the rules so we don’t end our lives with a giant splat.

The first thing we need in order to have justice is truth.

The second thing we need for justice to reign is righteous judges.

Look at verse 21 Exodus 18:21 “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.”

What makes a great judge?

First, they fear God.

They have to know they are nothing without the Lord.

They have to know where wisdom comes from.

They have to know that they can’t see 10 seconds from now, for their rulings to last, they’ve got to know the one who sees the end from the beginning.

Second, they must be trustworthy.

This not only means they can be trusted to do what is right.

But that they can be trusted to do what is right every single time someone stands before them.

That the justice they pronounce today will be the same justice they pronounce tomorrow - regardless of who is standing before them.

Third, they must be people of incredible integrity - they must “hate a bribe.”

Just two weeks ago two people, Sue Mi Terry, a former analyst for the CIA was arrested for exchanging gifts for US state secrets.

And Senator Bob Menendez was convicted of “taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold, and a Mercedes Benz among other things

To influence legislation to help make certain business people rich and to benefit the country of Egypt.”

This is why it is imperative a great judge fears God.

If they don’t fear God, Paul sums it up rather nicely in Philippians 3:19

Philippians 3:19 ESV

Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

If their god is their belly, a bribe is almost a given.

But if they truly fear God, they will be tempted - you’d better know the devil will tempt them with all of his might.

But they will have the power to resist because 1 John 4:4

1 John 4:4 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

So for justice to prevail, we must know the truth, we must have righteous judges and we must have order.

Look at verse 21 again Exodus 18:21 “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.”

Justice delayed is justice denied.

So take the hundreds of thousands of Israelites, divide them into manageable groups - not literal thousands, but into manageable groups about that size

So that people can be heard and get justice at the lowest possible level.

We’ve quoted 1 Corinthians 14:33 before:

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NLT)

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

The Lord wants order

And order combined with those others things brings what the Lord is looking for, look at verse 23

Exodus 18:23 “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.””

It is the Lord’s will for us to live in peace. v.23

And without justice, there is no peace.

And we have problems with justice, because we don’t follow the Lord.

Jesus told His disciples right before His crucifixion and resurrection John 14:27

John 14:27 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Jesus says that

He gives us that gift because that’s the will of the Lord for us.

He doesn’t want us troubled or afraid.

Let me encourage you.

If you don’t have peace - knowing what to do is simple.

What are you looking for to give you peace?

Jesus says nothing in the entire world can give you peace.

Except for Him, He can.

It troubles me that some are thinking, I follow the Lord but I don’t have peace.

I understand what you are saying - I’ve said the same thing.

Let me encourage you to keep searching after Him.

Keep asking the Spirit to help you with this.

It doesn’t come all at once - maybe to one or two people maybe - but for the most of us

It takes a lifetime of learning to see that no matter what’s going on the Lord is working to draw us closer to Him.

If you’ll keep looking towards Jesus, the peace will come.

And you know what’s funny, it will surprise you one day.

You’ll realize, “I should be getting upset, but I’m not because I know Jesus is taking care of business.”

It will come.

The Lord wants His people to live in peace.

Let us pray:

Pray

There is one other thing we need to notice about this story.

It’s not about me - it’s about us.

We have Americanized the gospel to make it about me.

“You” singular need a personal relationship with Jesus - that’s what we’ve preached.

Most of our Christian literature is aimed at the individual.

How “I” find peace with God.

But this text isn’t about me - it’s about us.

The Lord is creating for Himself a people.

He’s not creating a collection individuals - He’s creating a people.

When we live in the new heaven and the new earth, we won’t drive down the street and see everyone’s individual mansions

In neighborhoods where we rarely if ever speak to our neighbors.

We will be a community - God’s community.

We will be a people with a singular, common bond - we are all there because Jesus saved us.

WE are Jesus people.

And the church, this church is a glimpse of what that will be.

We are God’s people, united by a singular common bond - we were sinners but Jesus washed us and made us new and set us free.

John 17:20–21““I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

There’s the point - that we will be a part of that trinitarian love.

Not one at a time, but all together - united in Jesus.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

And there is what makes us a Church.

Jesus body and blood shed for the remission of our sin.

And a new hope - as we watch the eastern sky and listen for the sound of the trumpet.

Jesus died, rose and is coming again - for. us.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in your great mercy has promised forgiveness of sin to all who truly repent

And with true faith turn to You.

Have mercy upon us, pardon us and deliver us from our sins.

Grant us assurance of our salvation and strengthen us to do good in your name.

And when our day comes Father, bring us to everlasting life,

Through Christ Jesus our Lord we pray. Amen.

That was a prayer our ancestors prayed in 1549 at communion.

They also gave this charge to the congregation:

You that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors,

And intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God and walking from this day forevermore in His holy ways:

Draw near with faith, and take this holy Ordinance to your comfort:

And make your humble confession to Almighty God.

If you are a Christ follower who was baptized after you were saved, you are invited to join with us at the Lord’s table.

a. Everyone please exit your pew to the left and proceed to the station closest to you.

i. If you are gluten free, come to ______ table.

1. When you are served, you may eat the elements then or take them to your seat - whichever you want.

a. When everyone is served, we’ll sing a song and go to our homes.

i. So now, will you stand and come to the Lord’s table.