This exposition of Exodus 18:1-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 6, 2019.
Intro:
The Exodus is the powerful story of how God brought the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and set them on the path to the land flowing with milk and honey.
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It is the story of how Israel escaped from slavery, how they wandered in the wilderness, received the law at Mount Sinai, and the instruction for the building of the Tabernacle. There is also the spiritual connection between the salvation of Israel and our salvation in Jesus Christ. After a long bondage to sin God in mercy and grace brought us through the deep waters of death through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. But that is just the beginning of our journey as we are then set on the pilgrim’s path leading to righteousness. So much of our experience mirrors that of Israel. The path is often difficult. Often our journey leads us to waterless places and periods of barrenness but our God faithfully guides our steps and provides our every need. We may not have a cloud by day or a pillar of fire by night but our guide is just as sure and every bit as certain as we are led by His word and by His Spirit that dwells within us.
Israel sang the praise of God as they stood beside the Red Sea rejoicing in God’s great deliverance. From there they traveled into the wilderness and wandered 3 days without water only to come upon bitter spring. There, the children of Israel grumbled before the LORD but in grace and mercy he cured the waters, making them sweet. Then He led them to an oasis. A place with 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees. It was glorious until they moved on, further into the wilderness of sin. Again Israel cried out, “Have you brought us here to die?” God graciously provided quail in the evening and manna in the morning. He would daily supply them with manna for the next 40 years! They were to gather enough for each day. There was to be no hoarding as they learned to trust God for each day’s provision. On the 6th day they were to gather twice as much so that they could observe a sabbath rest on the 7th. Arriving at Rephidim (the place of rest) they found themselves again without water. So, they grumbled! God instructed Moses to strike the rock and He miraculously provided them water. It was an exciting, confusing, tiresome journey. Then they were ambushed by the Amelekites. God miraculously delivered them through prevailing prayer as Moses along with Aaron and Hur interceded for the people as Joshua engaged their enemy. The story is filled with praise, hardship, joy, confusion, provision and unbelief. Contrary to popular opinion, the life of faith is messy. Things do not fit in a nice package with all the loose ends neatly tucked in place. It is a life of confusing commands and unanswered questions. It is a life that requires faith. The pilgrim path is a journey of trust on which we learn to trust and obey.
Arriving at chapter 18 we witness a family reunion. A reunion that teaches us an important lesson for this journey we are on.
Text: Exodus 18:1-12
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law comes for a visit as he brings Moses’ family home. Wait, when did they leave? Why did they leave? We don’t know. We simply are not told. There is no mention of their leaving there is only this casual comment about Jethro returning them after Moses had, “Sent his wife home.” Some suggest that Moses sent his wife and children away before all of those unpleasant things happened in Egypt. That doesn’t make sense and it’s not likely Moses would have been allowed to do such a thing. Others suggest there is something in the phrase, “sent her home.” That is an expression that is used later in the context of divorce. Some say that Zipporah had displeased Moses in some way and that he had divorced her. That is reading too much into that expression this early in Israel’s story plus the passage repeated refers to her has Moses’ wife.
Most likely, as they reached Horeb, the place Moses met God in the bush that burned but was not consumed, he was near to Jethro’s camp and he said to his wife, “Why don’t you take the kids and go see grandpa!”
When it happened and why it happened doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens when Jethro shows up. Look with me as we explore Exodus 18:1-12.
This is what I want you to note from this text…
Thesis: Along the Pilgrim Path it is expected that we engage in authentic gospel witnessing.
We are to share the story. We are to tell the good news. We are to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in us. The Scripture is clear, we are to be vocal witnesses of the goodness, the glory and the saving work of our God. When Jesus announced the coming of the Spirit of God in Acts 1 he said, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” Not you might be or you might want to think about being, or it would be a good thing if you were…No, you will be my witnesses.
I’ve got news for you, if you are a child of God - you are a witness. The only question is whether you are a good witness or a poor witness. Whether your witness is a faithful representation of the truth or a perverted representation. Your life speaks. Your words reflect on your faith.
The goal is to be an authentic, faithful witness and there are three things connected to being an authentic witness from Moses’ encounter with Jethro.
- An authentic gospel witness is rooted in genuine love and respect. (18:1-7)
- An authentic gospel witness demands a God-centered declaration of the truth and of the gracious work of God in salvation. (18:1, 8)
- An authentic gospel witness accompanied by divine enabling results in a glorious, thorough conversion. (18:9-12)
Conclusion:
This is a thoroughly converted man. The goal of evangelism is not a decision but a conversion. The goal is repentance and change. A change of heart, mind, and life. We are called to engage in evangelism. It is expect of us as we travel the pilgrim path that we give witness to the saving work of our God.
If that is to be effective it demands that we genuinely love and respect those to who we witness.
It demands that we give a God-centered declaration of the truth and the gracious work of God in salvation and it demands divine enabling. Apart from the gracious work of the Spirit of God there will be no conversion. Salvation is God’s work we are His co-laborers in His great work.
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