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This morning, as we continue our study of the Old Testament book of Exodus, we’re going to give some thought to chapter 18 which represents a welcome reprieve for the children of Israel and their point leader Moses from their preceding time of testing in the wilderness.

By this time, Moses had been on the road with the Israelites for nearly three months, and he didn’t have his wife and kids with him to offer their love and support.

Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons…. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. Exodus 18:2-3a, 5-7, ESV

I. The Gift of Encouraging _______________

Moses had a major leadership challenge ahead of him leading God’s people en masse through the wilderness to the land the Lord had promised them. Having his wife and kids with him was no insignificant matter, because family matters a lot. Families are some of the greatest gifts God can give. Is it any wonder that in our salvation we’re not just saved from sin to enjoy a personal relationship with our Lord, but also brought into a new spiritual family, for we are adopted as God’s sons and daughters.

When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5, ESV

II. The Gift of Extraordinary _______________

When Moses and his father-in-law, Jethro, sat down together to catch up on things, Moses had a lot to share. Naturally, he told him the story of what God had incredibly done for the people of Israel.

Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” Exodus 18:9-11, ESV

Word of this miraculous deliverance of God’s people of old and consequent defeat of the mighty Egyptian military was spreading across the region. In fact, hearing about this salvation was at least one reason why Jethro traveled from Midian to the mountain of God where the Israelites were now camped.

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. Exodus 18:1, ESV

Like Moses, who recounted to his father-in-law the provision of God for his people, do we also seek to seize appropriate opportunities to do the same with those in our lives that have yet to come to faith in Christ?

In the case of Jethro, the priest of Midian, it seems that Moses’ sharing with him the story of salvation the people of Israel had experienced by God’s redemptive grace leads him to come to true faith in the Lord.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. Exodus 18:12, ESV

III. The Gift of Effective _______________

Jethro recognizes that there’s no way that his son-in-law, by himself, can keep doing what he’s been doing for such a large number of people. Moses was eventually going to crash and burn, and the people were going to become increasingly exasperated having to wait, and wait, and wait even longer to get an audience with him.

“What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” Exodus 18:17-23, ESV

1. Good Leaders _______________

This principle applies not just to the leadership approach here at church, for in our personal lives, within the context of our families, as well as our careers, to the extent that we’re able we need to encourage others around us to share in the fulfillment of certain responsibilities.

2. Good Leaders _______________

Moses recognized that regardless of where good, godly counsel originates, he would be foolish not to take it.