Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 23 March 2024

Text: Exodus 18:13-27

Message: “I will give you counsel”

INTRODUCTION

1. Challenges that the children of Israel faced in the wilderness thus far

a. No water (Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 17:1-7)

b. No food (Exodus 16)

c. Attack from enemies (Exodus 17:8-16)

2. A new challenge encountered

a. The children of Israel were still new to being governed on their own

b. There was no proper system in place to manage the affairs of the people

c. God needed to help them develop as a people!

THE PROBLEM WITH MOSES’ APPROACH

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.”

Exodus 18:13-16

1. One of Moses’ roles as leader – judge

a. The people came to him to inquire of God when they have a difficulty

b. He would judge between one and another

c. He would make known the statutes of God and His laws

2. The problem with his approach

a. He was doing the work of judging all by himself

b. The work was very demanding (from morning to night)

c. It was very taxing on the people queuing to meet him

JETHRO’S PROPOSAL TO MOSES

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. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 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. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

Exodus 18:17-23

1. Jethro expressed his concerns

a. Moses’ current approach was not good

b. It would wear both Moses and the people out

c. It was too much for Moses to perform by himself too

2. Jethro’s advice to Moses

a. Focus on his tasks as the leader

i. Be the main person standing between God and the people

ii. Teach the people the statutes and the laws of God

iii. Show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do

b. Select able men to support his work of judging the people

i. They must fear God

ii. They must be men of truth

iii. They must hate covetousness (men of integrity)

c. How they are to support Moses

i. Every great matter they shall bring to Moses

ii. But every small matter they are to judge themselves

3. The desired outcome of Jethro’s advice

a. Moses would be able to endure as their leader

b. The people would have their difficulties resolved and go away in peace

MOSES’ POSITIVE RESPONSE

24 So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

Exodus 18:24-27

1. Moses’ heeded the advice of Jethro

a. In humility

b. In recognition of Jethro’s wisdom

2. He chose able men out of Israel

a. Made them heads over the people

b. They judged the small cases themselves

c. They brought the big cases to Moses

d. These were done as Jethro advised!

LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THIS EVENT

1. The value of wise counsel

a. Moses recognised the value of Jethro’s advice

b. He did not adopt a “I know better” attitude

c. In humility, he accepted Jethro’s advice and made changes

d. This resulted in a more efficient and effective judicial system for the people

2. The role of the community

a. Moses could not have done the work of judging the people all by himself

b. He needed others to support his work

c. Bringing others to lead alongside him turned out well

3. The importance of character

a. Jethro’s criteria for choosing able men was not based on ability

b. Instead, his focus was on a person’s character

i. Fear God

ii. Men of truth

iii. Men of integrity

c. This was key to ensuring that these men would serve faithfully as leaders

CONCLUSION

1. Appreciate the counsel of older ones

a. To discern the wisdom behind the advice given

b. To have the humility to accept good advice

2. Seek to be that community in Bethany

a. We don’t need to go through life alone

b. We have a community here to help when we cannot cope

c. We can also be there to support the leaders and others

3. Cultivate our character

a. To become people who fear God

b. To be people of truth

c. To be people of integrity