WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:06.600 Good morning, everyone. It's a privilege to be here this morning. I'm pastor at Bellevue Chapel. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:12.640 Not very long yet. We moved here last August and are just slowly settling in. 00:00:14.179 --> 00:00:16.800 Well, it's a great privilege to be invited here this morning. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:23.980 Well, I'm from the Netherlands. Sometimes when I speak somewhere, the two questions I seem to get 00:00:23.980 --> 00:00:30.320 that seem to worry people throughout the sermon are both, what accent is that? 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:37.659 I just try to sound cool, so I'm trying them all. Some people say I'm Canadian or Australian or Irish. 00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:42.859 I see my wife is Irish, so it's a real mixture. So just to help you with that confusion. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:48.980 And the other question I often get is, so how tall are you? Well, I'm six foot eight, 00:00:48.979 --> 00:00:55.239 so you don't have to worry about that either. So hopefully then you can listen to this sermon as it is. 00:00:55.559 --> 00:00:59.939 But it's a great privilege to be part of this series, The Great Escape. I've tried. 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:04.259 I couldn't listen to them all, but I've tried to listen to one or two of the sermons already 00:01:04.259 --> 00:01:07.479 because I think you've had a little gap and you've just picked it up again. 00:01:07.759 --> 00:01:14.079 And the thing that struck me when I was listening was one sermon where John was explaining the fact 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:19.340 that it's not just about the great escape because that's only the start of the journey. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:25.900 And however important that is, the second half is as important. It's about getting to safety. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:32.599 And I think in that context, you'll and we'll together hopefully will understand what is happening here 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:37.060 in this exchange between a father-in-law and his son-in-law. 00:01:37.060 --> 00:01:46.140 I mean, a beautiful picture of an elderly person, not, you know, sorry, a person older than, you know, 00:01:46.180 --> 00:01:52.079 passing advice on to the younger. And how beautiful would that not be if this is a community where that happens, 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:58.320 both where the youngers are willing to take advice from some of the older men and women 00:01:58.320 --> 00:02:01.980 who have a little bit more live experience and wisdom in that sense, 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:07.859 but also vice versa, that you who have been around for longer will not shy away, 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:12.539 but with grace explain the ways and the paths of God. 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:15.099 But let's look at this passage together. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:19.199 Really what we've had so far in Exodus has been a roller coaster. 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:24.539 And what struck me about this picture in this chapter is that it's peculiarly mundane. 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:27.680 There's nothing exciting happening. 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:31.620 There's no seas splitting. There's no water coming out of a rock. 00:02:31.979 --> 00:02:35.419 There's none of that, but there's Moses at his work. 00:02:36.799 --> 00:02:38.639 We read in verse 13, 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:42.780 The next day Moses took a seat to serve as judge for the people, 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:45.439 and they stood around him from morning till evening. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:49.459 This is like a day in the life of Moses, a day in the office. 00:02:50.239 --> 00:02:55.019 And I wonder how Moses felt about this part, this side of his responsibility. 00:02:55.020 --> 00:02:59.780 I think every job has a side that we're not always that keen on. 00:03:00.320 --> 00:03:01.760 Maybe it's the administration. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:04.620 You'd rather be out there with the people, or maybe it's vice versa. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:08.340 You're not that keen on working with people, but you love the administration. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:10.820 Well, I wonder how this would work. 00:03:11.020 --> 00:03:14.060 You know, Moses waking up, opening up the tent. 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:19.080 There they are, yet again, wondering what will it be today. 00:03:20.140 --> 00:03:22.599 More grumbling, more complaints. 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:23.939 How am I going to deal with these people? 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:30.620 There certainly is a sense that Moses, however he felt about it, is starting to grow weary. 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:36.439 Interestingly, though, it reminded me of the fact that actually there used to be a time 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:40.219 that people could visit the White House in Washington. 00:03:41.140 --> 00:03:44.480 This was stopped way before the Second World War, 00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:47.939 but the president, as the representative of the people, 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:50.400 would have opened up, quite often on a Friday, 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:55.759 the White House for anyone to queue up to seek wisdom or advice straight from the president. 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:56.939 Can you imagine that now? 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:59.460 But that's the picture we get now. 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:01.360 People queuing to see Moses. 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:07.800 Now, a lot of people have wondered what this chapter can teach us today. 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:13.340 A lot of people seem to think this has lots of lessons on leadership. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:20.160 Others get the impression that maybe this is the start of a court system, 00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:23.060 where you have a high court and a smaller court, 00:04:23.460 --> 00:04:25.240 and that helps to spread the load. 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:31.780 Well, this morning I want to borrow some words from an Old Testament expert called Alec Moutier, 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:33.439 who wrote a commentary on this, 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:38.460 to help us understand maybe what is underlying all of that is happening in this chapter. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:39.860 This is what he says. 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:40.300 He says, 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:46.500 The whole tone of verse 13 to 27 sounds administrative and legalistic, 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:49.879 but leaving it at this level is missing the point. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:56.960 It's not an account of the setting up of a lower and higher courts and even a Supreme Court as such, 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:07.319 but of making arrangements whereby the word of God was made available right down to the smallest group, 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:08.680 the extended family, 00:05:09.599 --> 00:05:13.779 so that daily life could be ordered according to the will of God. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:22.279 Alec Moutier believes that this is all about arranging that the word of God would reach down to everybody, 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:26.199 even the smallest child in the extended family. 00:05:26.799 --> 00:05:27.519 Isn't that interesting? 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:33.259 And for this word of God then to be what would lead and guide the people of God 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:36.239 and mold and shape them into being the people of God. 00:05:37.559 --> 00:05:41.579 One thing that might help and why he comes to this conclusion is if we look at the wording. 00:05:42.159 --> 00:05:43.359 Look with me to verse 16. 00:05:43.479 --> 00:05:44.219 It's not on the slide, 00:05:44.219 --> 00:05:45.099 but verse 16, 00:05:45.479 --> 00:05:52.099 we read there that Moses sees his own role as informing the people of God's decrees and laws. 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:53.500 Or in other translations, 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:55.859 it might say statues of God. 00:05:56.599 --> 00:05:58.459 That comes back in verse 20, 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:02.779 where his role is seen as showing them the way to live. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:05.179 Now these words, 00:06:05.539 --> 00:06:06.219 statutes, 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:07.359 decrees, 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:07.759 law, 00:06:07.979 --> 00:06:10.339 that's kind of Torah language. 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:15.259 Torah being the first five books of Moses, 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:23.319 which was never meant in the mind of a Jew as being exclusively about rules and laws or the Ten Commandments, 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:27.420 but very much about the known word of God at that time. 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:31.379 How we know that is by reading, 00:06:31.460 --> 00:06:31.879 for example, 00:06:32.020 --> 00:06:33.280 Psalm 119. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:34.680 Unfortunately, 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:37.040 it doesn't get read very often because it's so long, 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:41.960 but it's one of the most beautiful Psalms that praises God simply for his word, 00:06:42.340 --> 00:06:43.060 his word. 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:45.280 And we have the word in its all completeness, 00:06:46.020 --> 00:06:47.220 including the New Testament, 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:50.980 which explains to us who the person of Jesus Christ is. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:52.620 We are incredibly rich. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:57.040 And Psalm 119 uses exactly those words, 00:06:57.140 --> 00:06:58.720 decrees and laws and rules. 00:06:59.020 --> 00:07:03.560 And we sometimes get a little bit cringy about those words. 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:06.319 We're not that excited about decrees and laws, 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:08.300 but how crucial and how important. 00:07:10.140 --> 00:07:10.939 Because ultimately, 00:07:11.200 --> 00:07:14.140 if it comes to not just escaping, 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:15.759 but also getting to safety, 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:18.000 it is actually the word of God, 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:19.560 which will, 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:22.259 in their lives as well as ours, 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:24.099 manage exactly that. 00:07:24.659 --> 00:07:28.800 We need today the word of God more than ever before. 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:30.480 If we've become a Christian, 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:33.339 it's not the way to just take that step, 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:35.620 but to continue to follow in that step 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:38.039 and to end up in safety. 00:07:38.539 --> 00:07:41.759 We need these decrees and laws to shape and mold us 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.439 and to form our everyday life 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.319 so that we continue to follow him faithfully. 00:07:47.219 --> 00:07:49.600 And that is exactly what this chapter is about. 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:53.759 Making the word of God available 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:56.220 to the smallest group ever. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:00.079 For it was and still is this word of God 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:03.860 which will lead all of us as his people to safety. 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:06.620 People, we must never underestimate this. 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:11.000 We must never take away from both the authority 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:12.839 and the power of this word 00:08:12.839 --> 00:08:16.560 I sometimes wonder in the visual age that we live in 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:19.079 that we think that books, you know, 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:19.919 black and white, 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.699 sheets of paper are from the past. 00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:24.839 They can't teach us much anymore. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.659 You know, I'm a visual learner 00:08:26.659 --> 00:08:28.699 or I want to experience. 00:08:29.739 --> 00:08:31.259 And however valuable that is, 00:08:31.799 --> 00:08:33.839 ultimately God has chosen his word 00:08:33.839 --> 00:08:36.759 to explain to us how we get to safety. 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:40.659 Unfortunately, there's a slight blip 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:44.100 because the way that Moses was going about 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:45.939 getting that word available to everybody 00:08:45.939 --> 00:08:46.919 wasn't working. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:49.259 Verse 18, Jethro says, 00:08:49.579 --> 00:08:51.019 you and these people who come to you 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:52.980 will only wear yourselves out. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:55.100 The work is too heavy for you. 00:08:55.539 --> 00:08:58.059 You cannot handle it alone. 00:08:58.899 --> 00:08:59.839 Moses, unfortunately, 00:09:00.719 --> 00:09:03.179 however much you want to desire 00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:06.579 to pass on God's directions to people's lives, 00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:08.660 the way you do it doesn't work. 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:10.340 So in comes this person, 00:09:10.540 --> 00:09:12.860 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:14.400 and he comes in with advice 00:09:14.400 --> 00:09:17.100 on how this is to be accomplished. 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:18.920 But listen how he does that. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:20.160 In verse 17, for example, 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:21.680 he basically tells him, 00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:23.300 what you do is no good. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:25.600 I mean, how are we with advice? 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:28.840 I've been doing a little bit of research 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:31.580 and you constantly come across this phrase 00:09:32.280 --> 00:09:34.220 where we love giving advice. 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:36.800 It's one of the greatest pleasures in life, isn't it? 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:40.019 We're always ready to point out to somebody, 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.100 hey, maybe you should do it this way or that way. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:43.860 Certainly where I'm from in the Netherlands, 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:47.139 there's lots of what I call unsolicited advice. 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:49.080 You know, people just speak their mind 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:50.680 and in some ways it's nice, 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:52.000 but in other times I'm thinking, 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:55.920 you know, maybe you could have just kept that to yourself. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:00.019 We're not good at receiving advice. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:03.420 It can sometimes just simply be because of pride. 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:05.519 Because of stubbornness. 00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:07.840 Because we think we know better. 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.779 I mean, Moses had a right to be thinking, 00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:12.700 Jethro, who are you? 00:10:13.460 --> 00:10:15.960 You haven't seen the things that I've seen. 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.600 You haven't experienced God the way I have. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:21.700 And here you come and telling me how it should be done. 00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:25.019 I came across this newspaper article 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:28.200 about what kind of advice people value. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:31.620 Well, one I found interesting. 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:34.220 It says, if you want to be happily married, 00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:35.900 marry a happy person. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:38.620 And this seriously was somebody famous 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:41.000 who thought this was the best advice he'd ever given. 00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:43.340 Or here's Gordon Ramsay, the chef. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.440 The advice he'd been given 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:47.320 and that has helped him the most in life is, 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:49.240 put your head down and work hard. 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:51.560 Similarly, the tennis player, 00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:55.440 Goran Ivanevich, that one. 00:10:55.820 --> 00:10:57.100 He won Wimbledon, I think, once. 00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:59.080 He learned in his life, 00:10:59.200 --> 00:10:59.860 never give up. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.259 If you keep believing and trying, 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:02.299 anything can happen. 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:04.240 Or somebody else said, 00:11:04.560 --> 00:11:06.519 aim high even if you hit a cabbage. 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:12.759 Well, let's see if that's the advice that Jethro gives. 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:14.039 I'm glad, actually, he doesn't. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:15.639 He doesn't go up to Moses and say, 00:11:15.700 --> 00:11:17.279 well, just keep your head down and keep going. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:18.559 But you'll get there. 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:21.059 No, this is what he says. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:21.939 And there's three things. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:24.139 First of all, he tells Moses, 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:26.579 and I think it's advice to all of us, 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:29.779 if we are serious here at Brunsfield, 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:32.159 to making sure that God's word 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:34.299 is made available to each and every one 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:37.679 so that all of us will end up reaching safety. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:38.980 He says, first of all, 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.360 let God be in this with you. 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:44.100 Let God be in this with you. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.139 Verse 19, the second half. 00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:48.159 This is what Jethro says. 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:50.360 He says, you must be the people's representative 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:54.240 before God and bring their disputes to him. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:59.879 I wonder what Jethro meant by saying, 00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:01.860 you know, make sure that God is in it too. 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:04.699 Seems very obvious, doesn't it? 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.019 But the impression we're getting 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:10.039 is that Moses was maybe starting 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:12.579 to rely too much on himself. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:17.379 He alone sits to judge the people. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:20.000 It's that idea where maybe 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.519 even after all the big victories 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:24.659 that he'd seen and seen happen 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:25.539 right in front of his eyes, 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.919 he might have started to think, 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:29.399 you know, maybe I can do this myself. 00:12:31.319 --> 00:12:32.679 You certainly get the idea 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:34.439 that Moses as leader is saying, 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:36.819 well, it's now down to me to help these people. 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:37.620 Well, I'm their leader. 00:12:37.760 --> 00:12:39.400 Look, they're coming to see me. 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:41.220 Maybe with that sense of pride 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:42.520 of, you know, feeling needed, 00:12:42.660 --> 00:12:43.580 needing to be needed. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:48.740 And so Moses was maybe more self-reliant 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:50.980 than God-reliant. 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:55.480 And I wonder how that works with us. 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:59.120 I mean, I can easily fall into that. 00:12:59.180 --> 00:13:00.560 We've just started at Bellevue. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.779 We've had lots of encouragements. 00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:04.379 We had a baptismal service 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.720 a couple of months ago. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:07.000 And all of a sudden, 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:08.000 there's a big surprise. 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.200 There's six people, 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.560 six precious lives 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:12.480 wanting to be baptized, 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:14.580 publicly showing the world 00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:15.840 that they love Jesus. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:20.019 But somehow, as a pastor, 00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:22.120 and I bet John can struggle with that too, 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.120 you start thinking, 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:25.080 okay, so now it's down to me. 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:26.519 I need to try to orchestrate 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.720 another great baptismal service. 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.220 We've got to get programs in there. 00:13:30.300 --> 00:13:31.180 We've got to, you know, 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.820 have lots of structure 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:34.220 to make it happen. 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:37.040 But time and time again, 00:13:37.160 --> 00:13:38.200 I think this is the lesson 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:39.660 that I need to learn the most. 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:46.199 making sure that God is in it with me, 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.480 with us. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:49.699 Because ultimately, 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:52.500 it's God that can truly make the difference 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:53.539 in people's lives. 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:56.740 It's God, through the work of His Spirit, 00:13:56.839 --> 00:13:58.279 that can truly make sure 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:00.360 that God's Word doesn't just reach up here, 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:01.199 but reaches down here 00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:03.019 and really starts changing lives. 00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:05.899 And yet, however obvious it seems 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:07.779 that we should always be involved in God 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:08.779 in whatever goes on, 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:11.100 especially when it comes to God's Word, 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:13.240 time and time again, 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:15.500 somehow that human default is, 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:17.079 actually, it's down to me. 00:14:18.079 --> 00:14:20.360 Even think of your own spiritual growth. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:23.039 How many of us, even there, 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:26.799 rely more on ourselves than on God? 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.039 It's down to me. 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.819 I've got to make sure I read my Bible. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:30.959 I've got to pray better. 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:32.759 I've got to spend more time with God. 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.659 When do we ever pause 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:35.779 and remember verses 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:37.819 like Philippians 2.12 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:40.020 where, and 13, 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:43.180 where Paul so eagerly reminds his readers, 00:14:43.420 --> 00:14:46.600 it is God who wills for us 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:49.220 to serve Him, 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:49.940 to seek Him, 00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:51.440 to work out our salvation. 00:14:52.140 --> 00:14:54.220 We need God to be in this 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:55.480 very much 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:57.740 and not to be self-reliant. 00:14:58.900 --> 00:14:59.720 If not, 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:02.560 we're going to wear ourselves out. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:06.500 We're going to maybe even be making other people 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:08.879 rely too much on ourselves as well. 00:15:10.099 --> 00:15:10.500 And you know, 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.579 this should be a great relief. 00:15:12.719 --> 00:15:13.799 Maybe we're sitting here today 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:15.819 and we've been feeling weary 00:15:15.819 --> 00:15:17.679 about our walk with Jesus. 00:15:18.339 --> 00:15:19.619 We've been actually wondering, 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:19.959 you know, 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:22.439 I know I should have a hunger 00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.500 and a thirst for God, 00:15:23.599 --> 00:15:24.639 but I feel tired. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:26.139 I feel spiritually tired. 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:28.340 What a great relief 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:30.360 that God is so eager 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:32.960 if we only let Him. 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.120 If only we let Him. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.679 So that's the first thing. 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:38.679 Let God be in this with you. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:39.919 Secondly, 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.899 He says teach. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:42.659 And I would add the word 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:44.019 teach to illuminate. 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.460 Not eliminate, 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.360 illuminate. 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.199 Sorry. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.299 Verse 20. 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.220 He says, 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:49.960 teach them 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:51.059 His decrees 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:51.759 and instructions 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:53.019 and show them the way 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:54.159 they are to live 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.360 and how they are to behave. 00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:58.459 I find it interesting 00:15:58.459 --> 00:16:01.100 that I think there's a difference 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.279 between preaching and teaching. 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:03.719 Now, 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.199 I wouldn't say anything bad 00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:05.799 about preaching. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.079 I guess that's what I'm doing 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:07.579 this morning. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.319 I'm preaching. 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.439 I'm explaining 00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:10.360 or trying to explain 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.379 God's word to you. 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:12.500 But I think preaching 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.179 should never stand on its own. 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:16.839 There's a wonderful picture 00:16:16.839 --> 00:16:18.240 in the book of Nehemiah 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:20.199 where after the rebuilding 00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:20.939 of the temple 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:22.819 and the rebuilding of the wall, 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.059 the word of God 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.319 gets rediscovered. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.139 I don't know if you're familiar 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.519 with this, 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:29.259 but then the great Ezra 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:31.059 is asked to read 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:32.000 from God's word. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.219 And the picture 00:16:33.219 --> 00:16:34.359 is something like this. 00:16:34.739 --> 00:16:36.079 The massive crowd 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.679 is packed 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:39.859 in this market square. 00:16:41.739 --> 00:16:43.419 They're asking Ezra to read. 00:16:44.239 --> 00:16:45.899 And Ezra simply reads 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.859 a section of God's word. 00:16:48.239 --> 00:16:49.179 And this goes on 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:50.219 for most of the day 00:16:50.219 --> 00:16:51.539 because people are so thirsty, 00:16:51.699 --> 00:16:53.239 so hungry for God's word. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.860 I haven't heard it 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:55.320 read for so long. 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.320 But every so often 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:58.360 he stops reading 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.840 because behind him 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:01.080 there was a team 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:03.000 of helpers, 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.039 of Levites 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.920 who would then 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:06.000 go out into the crowd 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.220 and I can only imagine 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.900 what they did 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:08.900 was basically 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.380 gather smaller groups together, 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.680 maybe a 40 or 50, 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.519 and ask them, 00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:13.460 have you understood 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.420 God's word? 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:16.880 And I reckon 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.980 they wouldn't have moved on 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.940 until all the questions 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.539 were answered, 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:21.080 until every question 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:21.840 that somebody had, 00:17:22.100 --> 00:17:22.259 you know, 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:22.900 I'm not sure, 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.900 I heard that, 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:24.880 but did I hear that right? 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.500 Is that what that means to me? 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:29.279 Until everybody 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.539 had understood 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.440 what had been read, 00:17:31.580 --> 00:17:32.320 they would have moved on. 00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:33.500 Well, that's exactly 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.700 what should happen 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:37.140 in the makeup 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.360 of any church, 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:40.460 that there should be teaching, 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.720 teaching in the sense 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.400 of equipping, 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:43.700 teaching in the sense 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.640 of helping one another. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.100 You know, 00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:45.700 sometimes we call it 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.480 discipleship, 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.200 but that's, 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.519 you know, 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:49.600 maybe a technical term 00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:50.180 for basically 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.220 helping one another, 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.680 giving each other tools 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:56.680 to end up being equipped 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.640 to handle God's word ourselves. 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.440 I think we're growing up 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.940 in a culture 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:03.660 and a society 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:04.380 where we're starting 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:06.100 to become too dependent 00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:08.339 on some spectacular speaker 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:09.079 who's got it all 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.860 worked out for us 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:12.039 and they churn out 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.719 the answers 00:18:12.719 --> 00:18:13.819 and I'm not blaming 00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:14.740 them necessarily. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:17.119 I think some of the blame 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.819 is on us. 00:18:17.979 --> 00:18:19.059 It's easy to find, 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:19.679 you know, 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.319 this speaker on the internet. 00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:22.219 It's all out there. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.679 But I think 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:24.159 and I wonder 00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:25.279 if it's made us lazy 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.240 and I wonder 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.879 what will happen 00:18:27.879 --> 00:18:28.859 in another generation 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:30.299 if we don't keep 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.319 helping each other, 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.500 if we don't keep teaching 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.099 in a way 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:34.679 that equips others, 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:36.079 the next generation, 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.439 even the people around us, 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.419 people who've just 00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:39.399 become a Christian, 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.320 to help them 00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:41.660 to read God's word 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.700 themselves. 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.180 If Moses had to learn 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.640 to become less people-focused 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.900 and more God-focused 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:49.000 and more God-reliant, 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.060 I think the people 00:18:50.060 --> 00:18:52.620 were challenged 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:54.400 to be less Moses-focused 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.280 and more word-focused, 00:18:56.280 --> 00:18:57.180 if that makes sense. 00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.440 And I know you guys 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.080 love John 00:19:00.080 --> 00:19:00.960 and I love John, 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.220 but I think John would, 00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:03.440 you know, 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.120 the last thing 00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:05.200 he would want to see happen 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.140 is that you're just 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.480 simply sitting here for him 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.200 because he's got 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.360 the words of wisdom. 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.400 John eagerly wants 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.339 all of us 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:14.819 to read God's word 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.500 for ourselves 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.759 so that all of us 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.920 aren't depending on him 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.759 or his ministry 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.380 or on anybody's ministry. 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.299 If you're a youth leader 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.640 or any type, 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.799 if you're a home group leader, 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.079 it should not be dependent 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:25.420 on you. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:27.420 We should always point people 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:29.539 back to God's word. 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.120 In order for people 00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:33.200 to get to safety, 00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:34.960 Moses had to 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.480 do some rethinking. 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.559 And thirdly this. 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:42.380 So Moses was challenged 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.920 to let God be in this. 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.100 He was to teach, 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.039 to illuminate. 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.799 And thirdly this. 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.400 He says, 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:51.200 But select capable men, 00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:52.539 in verse 21, 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.980 from all the people, 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.200 men who fear God, 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.279 trustworthy men 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.600 who hate dishonest gain, 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.940 and appoint them 00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.920 as officials 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.600 over thousands, 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.000 hundreds, 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.579 fifties, 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.039 and tens. 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:04.659 In other words, 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:05.980 multiply. 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.480 Multiply. 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.579 Certainly at Bellevue, 00:20:11.659 --> 00:20:12.659 we're trying to create 00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:13.339 a culture 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.899 where we multiply. 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:17.579 Where we're looking out 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.119 for people. 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:18.399 I mean, 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.779 this is very Paul, 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.279 isn't it? 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.579 If you're familiar 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.720 with Paul writing 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:24.000 to a certain Timothy, 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.879 these are the same instructions. 00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:26.740 Find people 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.700 to equip them 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.859 to equip others. 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:32.299 constantly be multiplying. 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:35.279 Multiply rather than divide. 00:20:36.219 --> 00:20:37.059 That's why I'm so glad 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.000 that Moses didn't get 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.919 the advice 00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:39.679 that we read about 00:20:39.679 --> 00:20:40.359 in the newspaper 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:40.839 about, you know, 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:42.000 just get on with it. 00:20:42.199 --> 00:20:44.079 Just be better organized 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.059 so that you can see 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:45.659 more people. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.319 And just see them 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.119 in shorter time, 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.519 you know, 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:50.359 slots. 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.479 So you can get 00:20:51.479 --> 00:20:52.240 through more people. 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:53.559 That would have been ridiculous. 00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:55.559 Instead, 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:58.679 look out 00:20:58.679 --> 00:20:59.240 for people 00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.720 who have 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:02.279 the capability, 00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:04.000 who fear God, 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.859 who are trustworthy, 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.759 who are also just 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:09.159 in all that they do. 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.980 Interestingly though, 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.960 if that's the call 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.779 to multiply, 00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.419 that's, I guess, 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.379 a call to the leadership 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.319 of this church 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.659 and anyone in leadership, 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:22.639 but it also makes 00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:23.500 anyone else 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.419 who's not in leadership 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:26.360 with the challenge, 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.660 are you then available? 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.519 Do we have people here 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.279 who are capable 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.740 and just 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.920 in all they do? 00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:36.279 People who fear God. 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:38.019 If not, 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:38.860 can we make ourselves 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.400 available? 00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:40.580 And say, 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.880 I want to get involved 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:43.420 in this work 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.620 of God's word 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:46.340 to help people 00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:48.539 get to safety. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.360 John can't do it 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:50.820 on his own. 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.900 The elders can't do it 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.420 on his own, 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:53.300 on their own. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:56.259 We must invest. 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.480 You know, 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.960 I think the big risk 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.660 here is, 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.740 sometimes it's easier 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.100 to say, 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.279 oh, I'll do it myself. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.240 You don't, 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.000 in the short term, 00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:05.560 you don't see 00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:06.519 quick changes 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.120 when you envision 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:08.920 to multiply 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.240 and to train. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.480 But in the long term, 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:16.180 God's work 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.259 is going to continue 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.740 long after us. 00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:19.720 And isn't that 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.200 the focus 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.519 that it should be about? 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:23.639 But again, 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.039 it's almost 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.779 countercultural. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.019 We're, 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.299 we grew up 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.700 in a world 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.139 where it's all 00:22:28.139 --> 00:22:28.559 about ego. 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.940 It's all about, 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.240 you know, 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.180 if you're a minister, 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.480 your big career moves 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:32.639 are, 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.859 get that book written, 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.059 get your name 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.519 on there. 00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.619 So you can invite 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.839 lots to other 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.200 churches, 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:38.660 conference, 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.359 that kind of thing. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.639 It's the upside down 00:22:42.639 --> 00:22:43.879 logic of what 00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.559 Jethro passes 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.920 on to Moses. 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.400 Can I share 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.480 one last thing? 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.839 So this is the advice 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.259 he gives 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:50.839 and this is 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:51.620 the advice 00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:52.579 we should take today 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:54.160 if we're eager 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.000 to help one another 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.140 to get to safety. 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.240 It is 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:59.059 by making sure 00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.720 God's word 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.599 is made available 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.779 to each and every one. 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.059 But there's a great 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.160 sense of humor 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.920 about God. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.259 We haven't looked 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.079 at the first half yet 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.720 of this chapter, 00:23:09.860 --> 00:23:10.799 but really the first half 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.339 of the chapter 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.339 is Jethro's 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:13.759 conversion story. 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.059 Jethro, 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.299 as far as we can tell, 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.379 has only just become 00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:19.460 a Christian the day before. 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.180 Chapter 17 and 18, 00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:23.059 as far as we can see, 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.200 describe two days. 00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:26.379 And it's lovely 00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.099 to think that 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.399 God, first of all, 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.720 provides water 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.339 from a rock, 00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:31.279 then he provides 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.879 the victory 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:33.019 over an enemy, 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.519 and then he provides 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.519 for Jethro, 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.279 the gospel, 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.899 and for Moses, 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.440 Jethro, 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.259 God of provision. 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:41.879 But if we read 00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:44.519 in verse, 00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.019 sorry, 00:23:45.159 --> 00:23:46.619 verse 9 through 12, 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.419 we see there, 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.199 we're just skipping 00:23:48.199 --> 00:23:48.679 a few verses, 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.579 we see there 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.259 at Jethro, 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:51.359 after hearing 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.379 all that Moses 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.379 told him that God 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:53.879 had done 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.839 and how he'd rescued 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.139 them, 00:23:55.379 --> 00:23:56.219 we see that Jethro 00:23:56.219 --> 00:23:57.000 was delighted. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.379 He rejoiced. 00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:59.500 It hit him. 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.619 It cut him to the heart. 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.659 And then he said, 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.639 praise be to the Lord 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.699 who rescued you 00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:06.279 from the hand 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.859 of the Egyptians. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.319 But he doesn't leave 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.699 it at that. 00:24:08.739 --> 00:24:09.799 It's not your God. 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:10.799 But then he says, 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.639 now I know 00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:12.719 that the Lord 00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.279 is greater 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.599 than all the other gods. 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:16.199 and he responds. 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.939 He brings offerings 00:24:17.939 --> 00:24:19.219 and sacrifices 00:24:19.219 --> 00:24:19.819 to God 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.759 and then we see 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.419 that he's even 00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:22.240 welcomed in 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.419 and accepted 00:24:23.419 --> 00:24:26.199 into the covenant 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:27.199 community 00:24:27.199 --> 00:24:27.919 of the people 00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:28.359 of Israel. 00:24:29.459 --> 00:24:29.980 Isn't that amazing? 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.819 A new Christian, 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.359 a new Christian 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.019 who wasn't even 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.339 part of the Jewish people, 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.659 a Gentile, 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:38.199 is used 00:24:38.199 --> 00:24:39.659 as part of God's 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.819 redemption history 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.740 in such an 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.959 extraordinary way. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.519 Well, that's God. 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.819 Because when you look 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.140 even through the genealogy 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.460 of the birth of Jesus 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.299 time and again, 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.759 we see these surprising people, 00:24:53.100 --> 00:24:53.860 Rahab, Ruth, 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.579 and a Jethro 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:57.279 who God calls 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:59.039 and uses them 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.380 as part of his great work. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.039 If you would wonder, 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.340 you know, 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.660 who are we in this story? 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.640 Well, actually, 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.600 we would be Jethro. 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.559 We are also Gentiles 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:13.500 who have had the privilege 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.500 of being allowed 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.179 to taste 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:16.099 of the good news 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:19.740 and were crafted 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.899 into the people of God. 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.599 What a great privilege. 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.399 What a great joy. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.500 But if that has happened 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.039 in our lives, 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.220 I hope we also know 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:30.700 that God then longs 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.460 to use us 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:33.519 maybe in a very similar way 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.899 to how he used Jethro 00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:35.500 in the life 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.619 of his people. 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:38.299 Let's pray together. 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:42.879 Let's maybe take a moment 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.599 in silence. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.799 Maybe just ask ourselves, 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:48.579 how much do I value 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.539 God's word? 00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:53.180 How much do I value 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.859 your word? 00:25:53.859 --> 00:26:06.179 Heavenly Father, 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.839 help us to see 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:10.240 how crucially important 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.979 your living word is 00:26:11.979 --> 00:26:14.479 to help us get to safety. 00:26:16.419 --> 00:26:17.619 Help us to see that 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.439 as a church 00:26:18.439 --> 00:26:20.799 and to take steps 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.839 if that isn't already happening 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.679 and making sure 00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:24.379 that your word 00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:25.339 is made available. 00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:26.859 Not just here on a Sunday, 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:28.199 but whenever we meet, 00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:30.319 whether it's one-on-one 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:32.619 or beside somebody's sick bed 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:34.500 or even at the funeral 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.399 this coming week. 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.599 Lord, 00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:38.079 to open up your word faithfully, 00:26:38.199 --> 00:26:39.779 to look and learn 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.459 your decrees and statutes 00:26:41.459 --> 00:26:42.819 and to help each other 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:44.039 to equip one another 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.500 to be able to read it 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.179 for ourselves 00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:47.879 and know that your Holy Spirit 00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:49.139 will help us to understand it. 00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:54.199 Thank you for your goodness. 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.980 How rich are we not 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:57.299 to have your word 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.379 in its completeness? 00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.199 And thank you for Jethro 00:27:00.199 --> 00:27:01.179 for a great reminder 00:27:01.179 --> 00:27:02.779 that this gospel 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.679 is for everyone, 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.679 including the outsiders, 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.480 the marginalized. 00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.500 And thank you that 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.599 you then use 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:09.500 this outsider 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:11.539 not just to taste 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.519 of your great escape, 00:27:12.699 --> 00:27:13.500 but to be part 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:15.419 of your great escape 00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:16.679 and to help others 00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:18.679 get to safety. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:18.959 Lord, 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.740 thank you so much 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.519 for teaching us. 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.619 And I want to pray 00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.339 for this church 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.079 that as they continue 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:24.119 to look through 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.940 this book of Exodus, 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.200 that you will continue 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.539 to bring your word 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:30.079 and bring it alive 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.539 for your glory 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:33.139 and for the sake 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:33.660 of your people. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.420 In Jesus' name, 00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:35.379 Amen.