Equipping for the Kingdom
Notes
Transcript
1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 The other was named Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. 6 He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 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 befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God. 13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 “When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 “You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 “Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20 then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.
Introduction
I recently came across a book with the subtitle: Are you indispensable? The emphasis of the book was on how we can become so valuable to an organization that it wouldn’t function the same without us. There’s something attractive about that isn’t there? We all want to be valuable to those around us. Sometimes it’s nice to be in positions of influence or leadership. After all, who wants to work in obscurity where anyone can replace you? There’s something in all of us that wants to be loved and appreciated and full of purpose. Very often those are good desires, but can very easily be pursued in the wrong way. One of those ways I’m afraid is through our work: If I can become indispensable then maybe I’ll gain a love or appreciation from my coworkers that I didn’t have before or maybe I’ll find a sense of purpose I haven’t experienced yet.
One of the great things about our faith in Christ is that we don’t need to go searching for love, appreciation, or purpose. If we know Jesus as our Savior and Lord then we know the fullness of love. We know He cares for us, appreciates us as adopted sons and daughters of God, and we’ve been given a purpose greater than any employer could ever offer: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! When all these good desires find their satisfaction in who Christ is for us we can let go of being indispensable. We can be content without prominence, glory, or importance because we have all that we need in God for us. He is the only one who is indispensable.
As we look to Exodus this morning Moses finds himself in a position where’s he’s become rather indispensable. He didn’t seek it out by any means; God has called him to lead and guide this people, but then Jethro, Moses’ Father in-law challenges him a bit with a question.
Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about from morning until evening?
“Why are indispensable Moses?”
Moses has a service that only he can provide, isn’t this goal? He has all the power and influence and everyone is looking to him for direction. What does Jethro advise Moses to do? Equip others to do what you do. Teach them the statutes and laws of God. Appoint men who fear God to do the work which you’re doing.
Just like all of us Moses is a part of a kingdom much greater than himself. To become indispensable is to build our own kingdoms, but to further the kingdom of God, we become dispensable. We are to decrease that Christ would increase, so we teach others and equip others to do the work that we’ve been called to do.
God furthers His kingdom through the ordinary work of godly people equipping more people to endure in godliness.
God furthers His kingdom through the ordinary work of godly people equipping more people to endure in godliness.
Equipped by God
A Priest Equipped With Character
A Prophet Equipped to Teach
A People Equipped to Endure
Four main characters to our narrative this morning. God, Jethro, Moses, and the people of Israel. As we’ll see, if God is left out, the other characters in our narrative could never hope to be fully equipped for the work of the kingdom. As we look to verse 1 Moses begins with the main character, the essential character - God.
Equipped by God (vs. 1-8)
Equipped by God (vs. 1-8)
It would have been easy for Moses to skip straight to the problem at hand and the good advice, but he doesn’t. He spends an entire paragraph on all that God has accomplished for His people and to show us, how does Jethro respond to this good news?
We first met Jethro back in the Moses hasn’t seen Jethro in some time, and a lot has happened since then. The last time Moses was in the area, he had just heard from God at the burning bush. He gathered his wife Zipporah, his two sons and he left to go back to Egypt. Apparently at some point, we’re not sure when, Moses sent his wife Zipporah and his two sons back to Jethro to stay with him and now they’re finally reunited.
You might imagine that Jethro has heard the story of God’s faithfulness to Israel from a distance, but he’s also had this testimony of God in his own grandchildren. Moses recalls there’s names for us here as they’re reunited. Gershom, Moses’ oldest son, his name comes from Moses’ words, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” (vs.3)
Moses, since he was a baby, has always been a foreigner. He was a Hebrew raised in the house of Egyptians. When he tried to help his people he was rejected and found wandering in the wilderness much like Israel. That’s how Jethro found Moses at the start and now he’s meeting the entire nation of Israel in much the same way.
Furthermore, Jethro’s other grandson, Eliezer, comes from Moses’ words, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” (vs. 4) Pharaoh tried to kill Moses as he fled Egypt the first time, yet God was with him and helped him, leading him to Jethro where he found his wife, Zipporah.
The same is true of Israel as they approach the mountain. Multiple times have they been delivered from the sword of Pharaoh and even the sword of Amalek for God was their help.
The testimony of God’s faithfulness to Moses has always been there before Jethro in his own grandsons and now he gets to see God’s faithfulness laid out before him in an entire nation.
A people sojourning in a foreign land delivered from the sword of Pharaoh by the God of Abraham, the help of His people Israel. As Jethro and Moses finally meet, Moses tells Jethro the whole story.
8 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 befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had delivered them.
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Before we ever approach the conversation about how to lead, how to teach, how to maintain unity, how to delegate and raise up new leaders we must sit and behold the good news. God has not left us to wander as strangers and sojourners in a strange land. God has not left us to slavery under the tyranny of evil. God our help, has delivered His people with a mighty hand and outstretched arm putting the enemy to death and granting life through great hardship for His people. It’s not just foolishness to leave God out of our kingdom pursuits. It’s impossible. There is no kingdom pursuit apart from the acknowledgement that God is our deliverer. None of it is possible apart from him. There is no kingdom to build if God is not in it, unless we hope to build our own kingdom.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
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Building, laboring, guarding and watching can all be done with the greatest of wisdom, the greatest of man’s means, and with utmost diligence, but unless the LORD is in it, it’s all for nothing.
How do we make sure that God is in it? How do we make sure our labor is not in vain, that our leadership and pursuit of the kingdom is not godless?
A simple question for us to ask ourselves: Before we venture into any fruitfulness or faithfulness, are we equipped with the gospel? When God equips someone for faithful service, no matter where that may be, he begins with the gospel, the good news by which we are saved. The gospel is the foundation of all that we do as a church the foundation upon which the kingdom of God is built. It’s never irrelevant. It doesn’t merely bring us into the kingdom, it’s the rock upon which the whole is built.
What kind of kingdom could we build if we are still slaves to our sin?
What kind of kingdom is there to be built if death still reigns and all we have is this life?
What kind of kingdom can we advance if Christ is not raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God waiting to come again.
There is no kingdom if we are not redeemed and Christ is not king.
We must be equipped with the gospel. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… (Romans 1:16)
Jethro doesn’t come to Moses as the bearer of good news. Good advice is not the same as good news. Before Jethro ever comes to bring any benefit to Moses, he must reckon with what God has done for His people. It’s in hearing this good news and responding to it, that we see the character of Jethro which equips him for the work to come.
A Priest Equipped with Character (vs. 9-12)
A Priest Equipped with Character (vs. 9-12)
Firstly, let’s recall: “Who is Jethro?” Jethro is a Midianite. If we look back to Genesis 25 you’ll see that Abraham had a second wife in addition to Sarah, her name was Keturah. One of her sons was named Midian. So Jethro is a descendant of Abraham, but not a son of the covenants given to Isaac and Jacob. He’s a distant cousin of sorts, which helps us understand what kind of priest Jethro is. There’s some speculation on this amongst scholars, but there’s a good chance that Jethro has served as a priest, a religious authority in his community, while fearing the one true God Yahweh- the God of His great great grandfather Abraham.
When I see Jethro I’m reminded of the Bereans in the book of Acts. The Bereans were Jews who feared God sincerely, but hadn’t heard the gospel until Paul brought them the good news. When they heard it they received it with great eagerness Acts says. They way Jethro receives this good news is with great eagerness as a God-fearing man would. Notice as well how every part of Jethro is responding to this good news. His heart, his mouth, his mind, and his actions.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
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Where does his response begin? ... His heart rejoices! The depths of his person is responding to the good news as anyone should.
Remember how the disciples described their interaction with the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus?
32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
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Jethro is not coming to Moses as a man of worldly wisdom, indifferent to God and the good news. He’s a man whose heart loves to see the glory and majesty of God put on display for the good of His people. He can’t help but rejoice upon hearing the news.
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If you were to apply for a job tomorrow, what would you put on our resume? What would you present to a hiring manager to convince them that you’re equipped for the job? Probably your experience at the very least. Your education perhaps, skills, qualifications, and talents. Maybe references of those who can attest to your skills. When we think about being equipped for a job we’re likely thinking about abilities to perform to a large degree, so we wouldn’t usually expect the hiring manager to ask, “What do you love?” or “What gives you joy?” That’s kind of a personal question. Does it really matter?
If you were Moses, you’d probably be looking for a few qualifications from Jethro before you start taking his advice wouldn’t you? Sure he’s your father in-law, but if you’re Moses, you’re leading over a million people. From a worldly perspective, you’d be looking for someone with experience in government, politics, at least a few years in a large corporation, yet what does Moses point out to us before anything else? He shows us Jethro’s heart. He shows us what He loves. He loves to see the salvation of God accomplished for His people. He rejoices in the good news!
It doesn’t stop there though!
10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.”
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Jethro’s heart and his mind are responding to the good news. He says, “now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods...” If there was any doubt before it’s been utterly removed, The LORD, God of Israel is king of kings and lord of lords. There is none like him. Jethro reasons with the truth that’s been laid out before him. He recalls the events and then concludes, “It was proven.” The evidence that’s before him leads to only one logical conclusion: Who is like this God who is greater than all the gods? As the psalmist puts it...
4 The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. 5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
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It’s apparent Jethro is not captured in a sensational view of God that’s purely emotional, his mind is reasoning with the evidence that’s before him leading to a sound understanding of who God is. If we stop there though we still have an incomplete picture. When we respond to the good news with the affections of our hearts, and we respond to the truth of the gospel with a spiritual understanding, the only natural next step is for us to take action for the glory of God. Responding to the good news of God’s salvation for his people is a response of the whole person: Heart, mind, and body.
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
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Jethro sees the glory of God in heart and mind and moves to give of himself in worship concluding the LORD is deserving of praise and sacrifice. His faith is accompanied by works. We might have some questions of Jethro if his joy wasn’t accompanied by worship. If God delights you, why don’t you praise Him? We might have questions if Jethro’s understanding wasn’t accompanied by worship. If the LORD is greater than all the gods, why don’t you serve him?
All in all, if we’re to step back and ask “Who is Jethro?; What qualifications and equipping does he have to advise the leader of the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people?” He’s a man of godly integrity! There’s no part of his person that is left out of God’s influence in his life. He may not be a head of state, he may not have experience in a major business venture, he may be a priest, but he’s not exactly a man of wealth or prominence in the land of Midian. In spite of all that his resume is lacking, he is fully equipped to serve the kingdom of God because the whole of his person has responded to the revelation of God in the salvation of His people. This is both the means and the end of kingdom equipping. We can’t further the kingdom without godly integrity and the advancement of the kingdom is the pursuit of godly integrity in the saints - the character of Christ in the saints.
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
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To be equipped for the work of ministry and service in the kingdom in it’s most fundamental form is to be equipped with the character of the fullness of Christ. Our whole being, mind, heart, and body shaped by the glory of God in pursuit of the glory of God.
Simple question we can ask ourselves this morning: What do we think we need to be effective in the kingdom? What’s on our resume as we pursue a position in kingdom service? There’s a temptation to lean on the equipping the world pursues in pursuit of kingdom goals: professional experience, leadership experience, competent public speaker, academic performance, maybe professional connections. God can certainly use those things, but their certainly not essential to kingdom work. The thing which equipped Jethro to serve the kingdom of God was his godly integrity - the character of godliness shaped by our whole selves responding to the good news. For us here today, don’t let the lack of a professional resume keep us from using what character God has given us in Himself for the good of the church. We are more equipped than we might realize in just gathering here this morning. We sing together in joy of what Christ has accomplished here this morning. We confess our faith together in understanding of who God is as Lord of all. We’ve brought before him a sacrifice of praise as we sing together. Perhaps we’re more equipped than we might realize?
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As we turn our eyes to Moses, we’re about to see the character of Jethro come to bear in some good advice as he equips Moses to teach.
A Prophet Equipped to Teach (vs. 13- 20)
A Prophet Equipped to Teach (vs. 13- 20)
Moses has functioned as the mouthpiece of God, as a prophet, since he came out of the wilderness returning to the people of Israel in slavery. By extension, Moses has also served as judge of the people. We’ve seen the major crises confronting the nation of Israel in the wilderness, but as you might imagine, there are going to be minor crises among the people along the way. Disputes of every kind that go with sinful people living together anywhere. So who do they go to? Well Moses, he knows the laws of God, he’ll settle the disputes of Israel! It becomes apparent to Jethro that Moses is the only one making these judgements. Moses stands as the sole judge for a nation of over a million people. He’s settling disputes from sun up to sun down day after day. Jethro sees this and cuts right to the chase.
“The thing that you are doing is not good.”
Moses is personally writing this down remember. He’s recalling these events to Israel as they’re about to enter the promised land. If you were writing a biography that you were going to pass on to your kids, would you be sure to include that part about how your father in-law came over one day and looked at your life and said, “The thing that you are doing is not good.” It would require a little humility to write all that down for everyone to see wouldn’t it? Moses spent forty years in the house Pharaoh. Moses has led the people out of Egypt across the Red Sea and through the wilderness. Moses is the mouthpiece of God to an entire nation. If anyone has the resume it’s Moses, yet in his humility he acknowledges his failure to all the people of Israel. He writes out in detail the words of his father in-law, Jethro. Jethro goes on to explain:
18 “You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 “Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20 then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.
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There’s a heart of genuine concern here isn’t there? Jethro wants Moses to endure and reminds him, “you cannot do it alone.” But even as Jethro goes on to give him counsel we don’t leave God behind as if a bit of good advice is all he needs to make this trip to the promised land a smashing success. He says, “I will give you counsel, and God be with you.” Jethro knows, no matter how much great advice you have, if God is not with you, you’ll never make it. No matter how many people you have to help you in this task, if God is not with you, you’ll never make it. If the LORD is not your banner it doesn’t matter who is their to help you. Jethro knows his place as bold as he is with his advice. Only God can deliver His people and yet there is wise actions and counsel to be considered for the people of God.
What’s the conclusion of Jethro’s advice?
Continue doing the work that you’re doing, keep being the people’s representative before God, but don’t forget to teach them. Equip them to be judges. Teach them the statutes and laws of God and the way they are to walk as His people. Jethro isn’t advising Moses to stop doing what he was doing as if him judging the people was not good. The fact that he was trying to do it alone, that’s what wasn’t good!
There’s a chance you’ve heard the phrase, “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” I might argue Jethro said it first. The essence of what Jethro is saying is this, “Judge between two men and they’ll know peace for a day, Teach two men to judge and they’ll know peace for a lifetime.”
Whether we recognize it or not we will all likely face this challenge, do I do it myself or do I take the time to show someone else how to do it? When there’s a to-do list in front of you a mile long it’s tempting to just keep checking things off the list. Moses has a case list in front of him every day so long he can’t keep up with it all. What’s he supposed to do leave the list, get farther behind so he can teach someone else to do it? That’s exactly what Jethro wants Moses to do, for his good and the good of the people. Jethro is calling Moses to look beyond his needs of that first day. If Moses can’t look beyond the needs of that first day then he’ll never step away to teach because that day will be considered a loss. We can only imagine, but Moses would have had to put down the case list for a day and start teaching. People were probably upset waiting for their case to come to Moses. Meanwhile Moses is teaching someone else the basics of God’s law. Teaching takes time! You don’t turn people into competent judges in a day, and there’s a bunch of people who need him today. Jethro’s calling Moses to look beyond the needs of Israel today and consider the needs of Israel for years to come. It’s a kingdom perspective.
Moses had all he needed to lead the people. He was equipped for the task, but he lacked one thing. A kingdom perspective. It’s a kingdom perspective that asks the question: what are the needs of the kingdom for this next year, five years, forty years? A proper kingdom perspective is what equips Moses to teach. It give him the, “Why?” Why is this necessary?
It’s essential we’re equipped with the same kingdom perspective as a church. It’s at the heart of the great Commission! How do we make disciples?
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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Israel has been delivered from slavery and passed through the waters of the Red Sea, are they equipped to endure as the people of God? No, they need to be taught!
As Christians having been delivered from slavery to sin and passed through the waters of baptism, are we equipped disciples? No, we need to be taught to observe all the commands of Christ, relying upon the presence of God the same way Israel is.
Discipleship is a work of the whole church, and we’ll look to the people of Israel in a moment, but I want to pause and focus on the role of the pastor. Moses is functioning as a shepherd to this people so it’s only appropriate we pause and make application for the shepherd. Paul the apostle gives these words to Timothy, a fellow pastor.
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
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Timothy’s not an apostle, he’s an ordinary pastor shepherding a flock. Paul gives him these instructions ensuring he has a kingdom perspective. Paul’s giving Timothy the exact same advice that Jethro is giving Moses. Teach teachers. Equip the people to do the work of ministry. Equip them to handle the Word of God that they may teach others also. By way of application, this is something you ought to expect of me. A lot of what I do is preparation for this coming week, but it’s essential that I and the elders be asking, “What are the needs of the church this year, the next five years, the next forty years?” Kingdom perspective in the pastorate and the eldership looks like playing the long game. It takes time, but the work of teaching teachers is essential for the life the church. Pray for me as I seek to put into practice that kingdom perspective. Pray for the elders as we meet that our conversation and our leadership would be oriented towards equipping you to do the work of ministry and teaching teachers. Pray for us that we would be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
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Our narrative doesn’t stop at Moses. We look to the people and the work they’ve been equipped to do.
A People Equipped to Endure (vs. 21-27)
A People Equipped to Endure (vs. 21-27)
21 “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
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Character never ceases to be the fundamental qualification for those who seek to serve the kingdom. Even down to the man who makes judgements for tens. He must have his heart shaped by God the same way Jethro and Moses have.. fearing the LORD because He is the one true God. He must have an understanding of the truth. He cannot be vulnerable to a bribe and therefore must hate dishonest gain. Jethro doesn’t lower the bar simply because these men are to be judges of fewer. Whether you judge 1000 or 10 he is to be a man of godly integrity. The whole of him devoted to God.
These simple yet deeply important qualities: The fear of God, our understanding of the truth, our refusal to satisfy our earthly desires, these don’t just get us in the door to serving the church like a ticket. “Yep you’ve met the minimum requirement.” They sustain us as we shepherd our children. They sustain us when we speak into the life of a brother or sister. They guide us and protect us as we lead small groups, teach Institute, and even preach on Sunday morning.
And what happens when the whole of God’s people exemplify this character and serve the church with them? Jethro says, “So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.”
What exactly is this burden. Let’s not forget what we’re pursuing here. Moses is trying to maintain the unity of the people by settling disputes. Unsettled disputes turn into conflict if unaddressed. One man cannot bear the burden of the unity of an entire people. God never intended for the unity of Israel nor the unity of the church to rest on one worldly man.
We sure love those stories though don’t we? One great hero arriving in just the nick of time to rally a broken people for battle, defeat the enemy, and ultimately unite that people under a single banner and a single crown for every one to live happily ever after. It makes for a great story, but if anyone is the hero it’s not any one of us.
One day Christ will come again, we will all rally to him as His redeemed, the enemy will be defeated, and we will gather under a single crown, the person of Christ Himself to live happily ever after. Until that time we bear the burden of unity together. We all are equipped and taught and preserve our unity in the gospel because we all know Christ. If unity is to be found around any sinful man it will only last a life time, but if our unity is in Christ and in the gospel then there is no end to it. We will die in this life a united people and be raised to that same unity in the resurrection.
When we work to preserve that lasting unity together, bearing that burden together we have the hope that Jethro gives to Moses.
23 “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.
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Jethro’s finals words have this wonderful caveat. After all this advice Jethro again defers to God, “If you do this and God so commands you...” As if to say, “Forget everything I said unless God leads you to do it.” Moses listens, trusting the character of His Father in-law, evidently trusting that God is using him for the good of the nation, and takes action with that hope, that he will endure, and will enter into the promised land in peace.
Unfortunately, the road ahead is less than peaceful. The sin problem of the people, they’re failure to fear God above all else will come to undermine their unity in weeks, months, and years to come. In spite of this, Jethro’s advice is no less true, particularly for us, the church.
Churches endure when the church as a whole bears the burden of unity together. We do that by knowing and defending the gospel!
Churches thrive when the church as a whole participates in the work of discipleship and making disciples.
Churches know peace when Christ is the one we love and fear above anyone or anything else.
As we go this morning, two closing thoughts.
Firstly, we’re never done being equipped. Moses was over 80 years old and had a resume unlike any of us could ever dream of. He still needed the godly character and wisdom of Jethro in his life. Whose the person of godly character and wisdom in your life? Do they know you? Are they in a place where they can speak into your life, maybe even say, “The thing you’re doing is not good.” It’s probably a little humbling, but can you imagine if Moses let just a little bit of pride step in. “Hey dad, I got this.” It wouldn’t have ended well for Moses or Israel. You might have noticed that Moses and all the elders had dinner with Jethro before Moses ever benefitted from his advice. As I said last week, dinner with a godly brother or sister is just the beginning of greater benefits in our walk.
Secondly, how can we take the next step towards equipping with a kingdom perspective? What’s that place of service in the church that may not check a box this week, but invests in the 5 year, 10 year well-being of the church. There are probably a number, but I’ll point out one that’s of particular need. Our nursery is short staffed at the moment, and we’re struggling a bit to fill the schedule downstairs. For those of you who have served so faithfully to invest in the lives of my children and those of the other families here, thank you. For those of you downstairs enduring through this rather long sermon, thank you! Perhaps more than any other ministry, the ministry of teaching children, is a long term investment. It requires a lot of time, a lot of energy, but it’s worth every little investment. If you’re at all interested in helping out downstairs, please contact myself, one of the elders, or Kirstin English, we’d be very grateful.
Two simple questions if we boil it down.
Who’s equipping me for kingdom work?
Who am I equipping for kingdom work?
Let’s Pray
