The Book that Shaped our Faith - Studies in Exodus
The Conversion of Jethro
Exodus 18
When Moses was forty years old he killed the Egyptian and hoped to lead the people out of Egypt. You know that following that murder he had to leave Egypt in a big hurry as a wanted man. He went to Midian and there he met a man who had 7 daughters. The man was Jethro and Moses was to marry one of his daughters. Her name was Zipporah.
Jethro was a priest in Midian.
You will remember where we left Moses last time. God has met the needs of the people in a most remarkable way. He is after all the God of miracles! We always need to remember that as we deal with this God and as we serve Him.
Water shortage, no bread, no meat and the Amalakites - they were a nation that dogged the progress of the people of God throughout the wilderness years. In this ‘salvation history’ - the Amalakites represent the world and its forces. 17:14-16.
Christian leaders, parents and every Christian should always be aware that there are forces set against your work - that are hard to deal with. Secularism manifested in materialism, greed, ambition, money, disobedience to parents, neglect of the Lord’s Day, putting self first etc. Too many professing Christians have given up the battle. Souls are not easily won - even your own family. Churches are not easily built - that requires hard work and sincere prayer. Too few of us in EPC seem to have got that!!!!
The Lord assures Moses that He will make war against Amalek from generation to generation. (17:16)
The scene before us tonight however is homely and powerful. We see Moses meeting his father in law - Jethro. This is an ordinary and homely situation. What is special about this meeting? Well, it was very special because it records the conversion of Jethro and how he helped his son in law Moses do his job of leading God’s people.
Let’s take two headings:
1. Moses help Jethro find the Lord. 18:1-12
2. Jethro helps Moses serve the Lord. 18:13-27
1 Moses help Jethro find the Lord. 18:1-12
Jethro was a pagan priest. He was a religious man but he did not know the God of the Exodus. You see all gods and not true gods. All religious people are not right with God.
Jethro was a priest of a pagan religion. He was not a Jew - he was a Gentile.
Moses used the opportunity to speak to his family about God. Moses had great respect for Jethro - verse 7 but he also cared for his soul.
Moses was what we should all be - an evangelist. He told all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh. He told Jethro about all the hardships that had experienced and how God had met their needs - water, quails and manna etc. Moses was an evangelist to his own family.
The result was the Jethro believed in God. He was converted. 18:8 - he committed himself to the God of the Exodus - to our God and there was a celebratatory dinner - 18:12. Jethro confessed his faith in God - see verse 10-11. “Now I know!”
God used Moses words of witness to win his father in law. He was faced with the facts of what God had done and he simply had to confess faith in God.
All true conversion involves a break for the old life and its values and the living of life for Christ according to His Word.
What about our witness to our family? Can I say that I am pained about the parents who bring children for baptism and then ignore their obligations? In their Baptism the kids become members of the visible Chruch and are engaged to be the Lords. Bring them to the crèche. Get them used to a Sunday routine. How dare we fail them - by thinking ‘I will leave their spiritual lives till later’? It all begins while they are in the womb. The baptismal hymn ‘Baptize them with Thy Spirit now” can actually happen! Pray that they may be filled with Christ When they are old enough to sit up till 7:30pm on a Sunday evening bring them to Church. Do you pray with them? Don’t leave it all to the Church - they must see God in you and hear His Word from you. Christian fathers have a particular role - their first idea of God will be seen in you! They see you are all knowing etc.
What a tragedy if their souls are lost. See first His Kingdom in your home. Keep His Day - honour Him at times like Halloween for example. Don’t mess around with their souls.
It’s conversion that makes the difference. That’s what brings dedicated service. That’s what brings you to the Prayer Mtg. That’s what makes you a lovely Christ like person. That’s what makes all the difference so that church is no longer a bore but a beautiful, exciting place to be for you are honouring Him on all of His Day and hearing His Word. You come because you want to hear what He is saying so that you may be equipped more and more to serve Him.
Conversion! If you don’t know what I am on about then it because you are not converted and you need to be!
So tell them what God has done for you. Forgiven you. Saved you. Delivered you. Helped you. Heard and answered your prayers. He gives peace in crisis times.
Evangelism is telling others what God has done for you. DT Niles an Asian Theologian put it like this; “It is one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread”. It is an obligation upon every Christian. It’s not take it or leave it. How can you sleep in bed knowing that the kids are lost and you do little about it?
Moses faithful evangelist to his pagan father in law. Jethro converted - may many members of our families be! Remember they are saved by God who works through our witness. It all depends on Him BUT witness as if it all depended upon you.
Jethro helps Moses serve the Lord. 18:13-27
This is fascinating. For the newly converted Jethro immediately goes to work in the Lord’s Service with Moses. Moses did the best thing for Jethro and now Jethro expresses his new found faith in acts of service.
Moses had a big job sorting out disputes among the people 18:13. Jethro saw this and offered a scheme to assist his father in law. (18:17-18) His advice was that Moses should delegate. Notice what Jethro is suggesting:
1. Moses should represent the people before God.
2. Moses should teach the people.
3. Moses should direct them in the ways of God.
Jethro - young Christian that he was told Moses to major on his vital work and that the rest should be delegated to others: This by the way is the beginning Eldership in the people of God and of the Sanhedrin (The 70) and the roots of Presbyterian Church Polity - the Ruling Eldership today. Look at the sort of men to be chosen:
1. Able
2. God fearing
3. Trustworthy
4. Rulers
By the way you should expect the highest standards from Elders both Ruling and Teaching. Their lives should be marked by grace. They should be mentors to the young - fathers in God as we heard this morning from 1 Cor 4. They should pastor the people. You should be able to take your lead from Elders. They should be at public worship / prayer life / service life of the church. It is an all consuming job! Better not to be an elder than to be a poor one!
Jethro saw this. Hoe did he know what to do? You just have to say that God revealed it to him.
Jethro got involved. He took an immediate interest in the things of God. New converts should do the same in the local church.
This homely scene ends as Jethro takes his leave of Moses.
Is there someone you need to begin to pray for - with renewed diligence? You need to be at the Prayer Mtg and tell friends there to pray too. I well remember an Elder in my last Congregation crying tears about his family of boys. We could all join our prayers with his. That’s what Congregational life is all about - not just about the Bar B Q or any social; event valuable as they are! Is there someone in the Lord’s work that you could encourage? Maybe they like - Moses are under pressure. What are you doing to encourage and help?
The conversion of Jethro and his subsequent work for the Lord and the Lord’s servant.
May be you need to be converted. That’s why you wonder why Christians behave as they do in service at home or overseas.
Maybe you need to get along side a fellow Christian who is stretched as ask how you could be of help.
For certain you need to be involved in the local Church.
What about it tonight?