In the preceding four sermons we have found several ways God has searched
for and found mankind. This has included controversial subjects such as abortion.
To conduct a Godly search for an answer, it is necessary to rid your mind of its
carnal nature. In short, your mind must be free of your thoughts or opinions. This
is not an easy situation, because most of us think we know much more than we
actually do. Without an open mind, we do not receive God's messages.
This sermon's dealing with search is to assist you in understanding scripture
as well as pointing out how we often get on the wrong track by not thinking out
what we read. There is a difference between a "talk" or talking and a "sermon".
A sermon usually addresses specific information and is a form of teaching, while
talking is merely communication about any subject. Thus, in studying scripture
or exploring a sermon, you should be looking for new knowledge.
Sometimes in our zeal to "help" God, we take it upon ourselves to make
decisions and do things we truly "believe" will help Him accomplish something. This
is an attempt on our part to do something good. This is a bad decision, because God
doesn't need any help, and our lack of understanding or failure to follow scripture
will have negative results.
We shall see how this works out in Exodus 18. Here, we are about to see a
joyful family reunion. Jethro, the priest of the Midianites and Moses' father-in-law,
has heard of the Israelites' freedom from Egypt. Moses tells Jethro of the miracles
enabling their escape. Moses' wife and two sons have been with Jethro while
Moses was back in Egypt. Jethro and Moses had a loving relationship, and the
entire family will now meet to celebrate God's blessings. Although not an Israelite,
Jethro worships the God of Israel.
Exodus 18:13 tells us "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. (V14)
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?'"
Exodus 18:15,16, "And Moses said to his father-in-law, 'Because the people
come to me to inquire of God. 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.'" Jethro was astounded at the tremendous workload that Moses
was undertaking.
Jethro really cares for Moses, and believes he can lighten the daily burden
placed on Moses. So, (Exodus 18:17-20), Jethro told Moses , "The thing that you
do is not good. 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. 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. 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,"
To man, this seems like a good idea. The people will be taught the laws and
things of righteousness and wisdom. There are two serious flaws in man's thinking.
The first is to assume Moses can't handle the workload. The second is changes like
this MUST be initiated by God, not man. If you recall, going all the way back to
Israel's desire for a human king, these wishes by mankind have brought nothing but
misery.
You see, even when we want to do good things, we must not forget to think
about what god has planned, and LISTEN to what He tells us. We are to be the
listeners, and He is the speaker. We are not to rush into solutions. Remember, we
are under God's wings because He found a listener and chose His people. It is not
because anyone found God, but because He found us.
In verse 21, we find Jethro telling Moses "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. (V22) 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."
Verse 23 tells us "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." Jethro
truly believes he is helping Moses. Neither have considered that God has all the
wisdom, and if Moses needed help, God would have arranged it. In other words,
they jumped into the pool without measuring the water. Note, and note well, that
when God leads, things go well, even if it appears we are struggling. Without
listening to Him, we let ourselves open to disaster.
You see how easy it is for us to assume we understand the situation, and how
we use our reasoning to apparently solve a problem. Did you ever think that the
problem or situation was too complex for God, or that He didn't know what was
going on? We rush to judgment that we can handle it, and forget to consult God, the
master planner.
We forget to pray about it, since we think we have the solution. If we do pray
about it, we usually do not wait for His answer. We already believe we know the
answer to the situation. When we pray, we expect God to confirm OUR solution.
You see, we are not LISTENING, we are telling Him. God does not necessarily
respond in an instant because He knows everything about the situation, and He may
not be ready for you or anyone to proceed immediately. You must listen for His
instruction.
So, you ask, Jethro's solution seemed to work, why question it? Folks, it's kind
of like eating too much dessert. It feels great at first, but later you have a problem
with your indulgence.
The workload for Moses was reduced. But God spoke directly only to Moses,
so the other judges had to use the wisdom of the world. Worse yet, an organization
was created. A man-made mistake. From this organization of judges came an
organization of the seventy, known to us as the Sanhedrin. About 1500 years after
the appointment of judges, the Sanhedrin plotted the death of Jesus, the Son of God.
What may seem good to us today, may have grave consequences in the future.
Remember 1 Cor. 3:18-19, God says, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man
among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be
wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
taketh the wise in their own craftiness."
Now that God has found you, your search for Him becomes your obligation to
listen to Him as He guides you through life and problems. We need patience, study
and worship. We must not make the mistake Jethro made, even though it may seem
good to us.
Rev. Walbear
for and found mankind. This has included controversial subjects such as abortion.
To conduct a Godly search for an answer, it is necessary to rid your mind of its
carnal nature. In short, your mind must be free of your thoughts or opinions. This
is not an easy situation, because most of us think we know much more than we
actually do. Without an open mind, we do not receive God's messages.
This sermon's dealing with search is to assist you in understanding scripture
as well as pointing out how we often get on the wrong track by not thinking out
what we read. There is a difference between a "talk" or talking and a "sermon".
A sermon usually addresses specific information and is a form of teaching, while
talking is merely communication about any subject. Thus, in studying scripture
or exploring a sermon, you should be looking for new knowledge.
Sometimes in our zeal to "help" God, we take it upon ourselves to make
decisions and do things we truly "believe" will help Him accomplish something. This
is an attempt on our part to do something good. This is a bad decision, because God
doesn't need any help, and our lack of understanding or failure to follow scripture
will have negative results.
We shall see how this works out in Exodus 18. Here, we are about to see a
joyful family reunion. Jethro, the priest of the Midianites and Moses' father-in-law,
has heard of the Israelites' freedom from Egypt. Moses tells Jethro of the miracles
enabling their escape. Moses' wife and two sons have been with Jethro while
Moses was back in Egypt. Jethro and Moses had a loving relationship, and the
entire family will now meet to celebrate God's blessings. Although not an Israelite,
Jethro worships the God of Israel.
Exodus 18:13 tells us "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. (V14)
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?'"
Exodus 18:15,16, "And Moses said to his father-in-law, 'Because the people
come to me to inquire of God. 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.'" Jethro was astounded at the tremendous workload that Moses
was undertaking.
Jethro really cares for Moses, and believes he can lighten the daily burden
placed on Moses. So, (Exodus 18:17-20), Jethro told Moses , "The thing that you
do is not good. 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. 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. 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,"
To man, this seems like a good idea. The people will be taught the laws and
things of righteousness and wisdom. There are two serious flaws in man's thinking.
The first is to assume Moses can't handle the workload. The second is changes like
this MUST be initiated by God, not man. If you recall, going all the way back to
Israel's desire for a human king, these wishes by mankind have brought nothing but
misery.
You see, even when we want to do good things, we must not forget to think
about what god has planned, and LISTEN to what He tells us. We are to be the
listeners, and He is the speaker. We are not to rush into solutions. Remember, we
are under God's wings because He found a listener and chose His people. It is not
because anyone found God, but because He found us.
In verse 21, we find Jethro telling Moses "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. (V22) 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."
Verse 23 tells us "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." Jethro
truly believes he is helping Moses. Neither have considered that God has all the
wisdom, and if Moses needed help, God would have arranged it. In other words,
they jumped into the pool without measuring the water. Note, and note well, that
when God leads, things go well, even if it appears we are struggling. Without
listening to Him, we let ourselves open to disaster.
You see how easy it is for us to assume we understand the situation, and how
we use our reasoning to apparently solve a problem. Did you ever think that the
problem or situation was too complex for God, or that He didn't know what was
going on? We rush to judgment that we can handle it, and forget to consult God, the
master planner.
We forget to pray about it, since we think we have the solution. If we do pray
about it, we usually do not wait for His answer. We already believe we know the
answer to the situation. When we pray, we expect God to confirm OUR solution.
You see, we are not LISTENING, we are telling Him. God does not necessarily
respond in an instant because He knows everything about the situation, and He may
not be ready for you or anyone to proceed immediately. You must listen for His
instruction.
So, you ask, Jethro's solution seemed to work, why question it? Folks, it's kind
of like eating too much dessert. It feels great at first, but later you have a problem
with your indulgence.
The workload for Moses was reduced. But God spoke directly only to Moses,
so the other judges had to use the wisdom of the world. Worse yet, an organization
was created. A man-made mistake. From this organization of judges came an
organization of the seventy, known to us as the Sanhedrin. About 1500 years after
the appointment of judges, the Sanhedrin plotted the death of Jesus, the Son of God.
What may seem good to us today, may have grave consequences in the future.
Remember 1 Cor. 3:18-19, God says, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man
among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be
wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
taketh the wise in their own craftiness."
Now that God has found you, your search for Him becomes your obligation to
listen to Him as He guides you through life and problems. We need patience, study
and worship. We must not make the mistake Jethro made, even though it may seem
good to us.
Rev. Walbear
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