Great Visits that Bring Victory

Prayer

Message

Do you ever feel that you have been burning the candle from both ends of the stick? Do you feel you have more on your than your mule can tote? You are running on empty. You may be at a point that you feel burnout? You feel like throwing in the towel?

I would imagine everyone here at one point or another has experienced such a time.

There are times in life that the waves of demand can be high tide compared to low tide. We can’t seem to be able to accomplish all of those things we need to do and it gets so overwhelming we do not even know where to begin. You are attempting to be everything to everybody and you discovering it’s just not possible.

I chose this sea background for our PowerPoint because there are times in life that no matter how hard we paddle, the waves of demand are pushing us back deeper into the turbulent seas of life.

In our continuing study of Exodus, today we find that Moses was at such a place in his journey as he led Israel. It will not be as apparent because Part 2 of this message addresses the deeper stress that Moses was encountering, the judging and counsel directly of 2-3,000,000 people.

Yes, even great leaders with large responsibilities feel just as you do at times when there is just not enough of them to go around.

You will remember in our time last week that Moses led Israel in battle against the Amalekites with the staff of the Lord at hand along with Joshua leading those chosen men to enter into battle. Even with Aaron and Hur’s help holding up Moses’ staff, Moses still sat down on a rock until sunset to win the battle. Tall task for an eighty year old man. We know that our present President and President elect-one of those are right at that age. Our Presidential leadership need our prayers.

The battle against the Amalekites was won yes, but Moses was physically spent in the process. The Lord prevailed, but Moses was a tired puppy in the process.

Let’s remember that Moses is 80 years of age and leading the people of Israel, acount between 2,000,000-3,000,000 people.

Exodus 12:37 “37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.”

This number does not include women and children. He is not a young man. Moses had a tremendous responsibility and we learn in our time today that it gets the best of him. We will read in just a moment that Moses’ Father in Law came and paid Moses a visit. Moses encountered great relief during and after his time spent with his father in law. What truths can we take from this great reunion? What morsels of truth will help us in those times we are overtaxed and overwhelmed by life’s challenges.

Exodus 18:1-12

Exodus 18:1–12 NKJV

1 And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3 with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) 4 and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); 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. 6 Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Prayer

Message

Listen to some great quotes about stress and the pitfalls of overextending one’s self:

Hans Selye was an Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist who is often referred to as the "father of stress research."

“It's not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it."

William James-wrote “The Principles of Psychology”

"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."

Those are great considerations.

Corrie ten Boom

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."

C.S. Lewis

"It is not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

Interesting thoughts.

When we walk back in time for a few moments and consider the vast change Moses’ life had been through, we quickly realize the transitions would have been stressful. Moses went through radical change at age 40 when he left Egypt and the fear that came over him from murdering a fellow Egyptian. Consider that if you committed such a sinful act and had to flea everything that seemed normal to you; it must have been a very stressful time. Consider leaving and living with an unfamiliar people in a unfamiliar place and to embrace an unfamiliar livelihood. Moses literally ran from being second in command of Egypt to a shepherd in Midian at the back of the desert.

At that point, Moses was about as remote and low key as one could be, but listen, you have never been so far off the radar that you do not register with God. When the prodigal was in a foreign land in a foreign pig pin, He was not too far for the Holy Spirit to speak to his heart. Regardless of how overwhelming life may be, God has not forgotten you. Amen.

And because of that:

Always Consider that God is at work in Your Conditions

Read verse 1 with me closely:

Exodus 18:1 “1 And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.”

I began our time focusing on Moses and the reality that we will see as we continue this study in a two part message that Moses will be overwhelmed with the vast responsibility of leading Israel. Let’s think about it. Moses faced the Lord in the Burning Bush and God helped him overcome his fears. The Lord met Moses’ fears of confronting Pharoah on behalf of the people of Israel. God helped Moses overcome the fears of bringing about the plagues and wondering how Pharoah might respond to Moses. God provided the confidence in Moses to lead the people of Israel through the Red Sea. Moses experienced times when the people of Israel lost confidence in him. There were times they despised him for bringing them to places without food or water. God carried him through those many occasions. The Lord provided in the battle against the Amalekites. Each time the Lord sustained Moses and the people of Israel as they faced their fears and fatigue. And again, we will see that God is totally aware of the mounting fatigue and stress Moses will be facing at an even greater degree and He will strengthen him for the next hurdle Moses will face.

What we want to take from this background and these transition verses today is that Moses will face is that God is the God of your conditions. God works providentially, divinely and He is keenly aware of the conditions you face and at every moment. What we learn today is that God goes overboard. He works in our conditions and He works to bring conversion and the crown for His glory through it all.

Do you believe that it was just happenstance that Moses came upon the seven daughters of Jethro when he fled and arrived at Midian?

Exodus 2:16 “16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.”

The Lord knew that Moses needed community, he needed companionship and he needed the comfort that comes with joining in a family, to be a part of a group. He knew that Moses needed community.

We learn in prior text that Moses initially took his family with him to Egypt, but at some point in time the family returned to Zipporah’s father’s home. We can only imagine that it was at a point in their travels when they were in close proximity to where Jethro lived and they were going to visit for a time frame. There is possibility that once the plagues began and Moses sensed that danger was eminent that he sent them back home. We truly do not know why they departed for a time but we can only surmise that God knew that Moses needed the strength that comes from companionship and family and the reunion with loved ones.

Exodus 4:20 “20 Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.”

The Holy Spirit was at work in the life of Jethro, Moses’ father in law, for Moses good, but also for Jethro’s good. Jethro will bring comfort, companionship and strengthening and Moses will be strengthened to bring salvation and conversion in the life of Jethro. Only God can do that?

God had an assignment for Moses and He has well has assignments for you. Everything that has happened in your life to this point even in the midst of your sin and blunders, God uses those encounters to fulfill His purposes in you and through you. Amen?

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

God was preparing Moses for a radical change of life at age 80. There are many here this morning that think the Lord is done with you. I say He has only begun for many of you here today.

The Lord called Moses to be His deliverer for the people of Israel. We see in our reading that it was a tall assignment. We read that He led Israel out of Egypt without the blessing of having his own family with him over that full span of time.

He was on TDY, temporary duty. I have always offered up an extra prayer for our military that have to leave spouse and children to go and fight for our country. That has to be difficult. Separation from family would be difficult for you and me and it was difficult for Moses. Moses had left a wife and two boys to serve the Lord. Moses needed them and they needed Moses and Moses’ father in law realized it.

Jethro, Moses father in law had heard the happenings and the great job that Moses had done in following the Lord and leading the people out of Israel. We know that Jethro was between a rock and hard place. He heard the crying and groaning of his daughter Zipporah that was desirous of her husband and those two boys that desperately needed their dad. Yet, His paternal nature did not want to lead them in harms way. There must have been a difficult strain on the marriage and on the family. Yet, Jethro knew that it was time for all parties of Moses’ family to be reunited.

Dearly beloved, we know that family and holy matrimony are a gift of God. Families are supposed to be together. When it really gets down to it, we have two things:God and each other. And dearly beloved, the each others in our lives are vitally important to our psyche.

God’s church here at Mt Zion is another family that is so crucial and comforting in times that you feel the conditions in life are too overwhelming. We need each other.

Genesis 2:18 “18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.””

Exodus 18:2–6 NKJV

2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3 with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) 4 and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); 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. 6 Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

The names of Moses’ boys were names that reminded Him that God was the God of his conditions. God had always been at work in his life. The Lord blessed him with a son by the name of Gershom that reminded him that God met him at his time of hopelessness and helplessness in a foreign place. God placed him front and center with a wife and ultimately two boys and a supportive father in law.

Moses was blessed with another son whose name was Eliezer that reminded him that God watched over and protected him from Pharoah during those forty years for murdering a fellow Egyptian and taking care of him the entire way as He led Israel’s people toward the Promised Land.

God is at work in the conditions you are facing right now and God is working in the conditions not only to meet, but to bring about something even greater. Amen.

Certain Conversations Can be a Critical Part of What God is Working to Accomplish in Times of Chaos

Brother Luke, you have mentioned more than a couple of times about all the stress Moses was facing. I remind you that in the prior chapter he was enjoying one stressful matter after another. Firstly, when the people of Israel came to Rephidim there was no water to drink. Scripture states that the people complained and contended with Moses over the matter. People get angry when they are hungry and thirsty. God answered that stressful matter by calling upon Moses to use his staff and to touch the rock at Horeb to provide water and the Lord provided.

Last Sunday you will remember the battle against the Amalekites. Most of us in this room have never experienced life/death warfare. But most of us have faced other battles and know the adrenaline rushes when the pressure of it all zaps us. Next Sunday, we will gain further understanding that Moses faced a mountainous headache of dealing with all the matters and conflicts among the people of Israel and having to offer counsel on a one on one basis to more than 2,000,000-3,000,000 people. Impossible task. Next Sunday we will read where Jethro offers counsel in how to multiply himself through others to meet the task.

Exodus 18:7 “7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent.”

God totally ordained the conversation and the grand reunion that had taken place. Firstly, we see that Moses approached the reunion with his father in law in a state of humility. Here we have Moses is the leader of 2-3 million people yet he bowed and kissed his father in law and showed the respect to his father in law that was due him. Moses’ life at this moment in time was wrapped in busyness, yet he took time for this important reunion.

The Lord had so prepared the heart of Moses to stop and hunger for the simple things of life, the reunion of family, and to enjoy an intimate time with his father in law in the midst of the wild ride of life he was racing in at the moment.

Listen to me dearly beloved, up to this point if any of this is registering with you, you being here to be confronted with this message is no happenstance either. Even right now God may have this important conversation for you today. Maybe, God has placed someone beside you on the isle to have an important conversation with. Maybe there is someone in this room that you know God has called you to converse with. You may not have a clue of the reward that will come if you are obedient to stop, look, and listen to what the Lord is calling you to do.

After the bowing and the embrace and kiss, “they went into the tent.” The encounter, the reunion turns into a time of regeneration.

Grand Celebrations and Great Change Can Come About When God is In It

Exodus 18:8–9 “8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.”

We note in the Bible that Amram was the biological father of Moses as referenced in Exodus 6:20 “20 Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.”

Numbers 26:59 “59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.”

1 Chronicles 6:3 “3 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.”

I share this detail to note that Moses obviously had a dad, but once he was placed as a baby in the Nile River and discovered by Pharaoh's daughter in the Nile that we never read of any referenced time in the Bible that Moses ever saw or interacted with his dad. We could deduce that Pharaoh may have acted as a grandfather in those early years that he lived in Egypt. But, we have no certainty of that fact. We would be safe to say that Jethro would have been a patriarchal and fatherly influence in the life of Moses in the forty years that he lived with him in Midian.

Exodus 18:9–10 NKJV

9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Sons normally like to report to Dad about all that has been going on in their lives to gain affirmation from Dad. I have always wanted to report to both of my dads all the good things the Lord has brought about in my life and when something great has happened in the lives of Clay and Tyler I will hear about it.

And so, Moses did just that. Moses shared the Good News, the Gospel of the OT of what God had done in the life of Israel and Moses shared with passion the awe of it all as Yahweh God was at the center of the salvation of His people!

I love this song, sing it with me:

“God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me. He loves me so. He loves Me so. He loves me so, He’s so good to me.

God is so amazing. The Lord had been at work in all the conditions Moses faced, not only to meet the conditions, but work to a greater good. As God was working in the conditions and placing on the heart of Jethro to bring Moses family to him knowing that Moses needed companionship, family, and community to strengthen him for what was ahead, God in the midst of the reunion places Moses at the threshold of a life changing conversation as he was celebrating and being reminded of all God had done in his life at this point to see him through.

D you understand what I am saying? God used the conversation of counsel with Moses’ Father in Law to allow him to be strengthened in his soul and in the process God used the conversation to bring conversion to the soul of Jethro! Only God can do that my friend. Only God can do that.

Oh listen to these two beautiful verses.

Exodus 18:11–12 NKJV

11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro bringing Moses family and entering into a conversation that recanted God’s hand at every juncture of Moses life and the life of Israel was the salve to the soul of Moses and at the same time, the man across from him, the only father Moses ever really knew; his soul was being transformed into surrender to Yahweh. I remind you that Jethro was a Midianite priest who worshipped a pagan god. And the Lord gloriously saved him in following the one true God.

In the best way that Jethro could understand at this point about God, he realized that Yahweh was the supreme God in his life. Jethro was so elated that he wanted to show his love and appreciation to God by giving an offering to God and the people of Israel embraced his decision. Only Go can do that.

I close by simply saying that this message may have been for you today. At this point in your life you feel you can not handle one more thing in your life. You are physically, mentally, and emotionally spent. I remind you that your conditions have not escaped the Lord. In fact, as I speak, God is working in your conditions for a greater cause. Its a time to be humble and listen to the voice of God in the conversations that come before you and those that he taps your spiritual shoulder and calls on you to converse with. Somehow, someway enjoy conversation that reminds you of the many celebrations God has brought about in your past. Those times of sharing will be salve to your weary souls as you rekindle God’s handiwork in your past. And, in so sharing, maybe , just maybe, a new soul with join with the Lord as you share with passion His goodness in your life. Amen.

Let’s pray.