Avoiding Burnout by Brother Curtis Hansen

         This message we are going to talk about the father in law of Moses, Jethro. Jethro was God fearing, a priest and shepherd in Midian, and most of all he was curious. There are not a believers curious in their life today. We have things we get our faith behind, and if there is a deviation from what we think to be certain, we leave. Can you be curious? Instead of assuming the worst in life when it takes a turn, maybe seek out the answers to concerns in the scripture. It's better than curling up and quitting your walk because you think you have brought God's wrath upon you for a stumble or fall. 

        We are going to be reading from Exodus chapter 18 and begin with verse 1.

        When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

        2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back.

        3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

        4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for God of my father said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

        5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

        6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

        The key to these 6 verses was Jethro had heard the news of the good reports, and was curious to find at more from Moses. Going back to the scripture at verse 7.

        7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

        8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.

        Moses gives Jethro his testimony of what events had occurred, how God delivered the people, and the travail they had gone through.

        9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

       10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

        The promise was that the people were to be released from captivity.

        11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods; for in the thing wherein they dealt oudly he was above them.

        Jethro sees the significance and power of God compared to the other gods of the world. In the 10 plagues cast upon Egypt, each one was a blow to one of the many gods of Egypt like Apis, Isis, and Set. "In this thing" may be a reference to in this country.

        12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

        After the testimony of Moses, Jethro responded first with praise of what God had done and then with a burnt offering. This was a move of respect.

        13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

        14 And when Moses father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

        15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

        Moses is telling Jethro that the people were coming to him to enquire of God. Now, as a priest, Jethro had people doing the same to him in Midian. 

        16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statues of God, and his laws.

        Moses is attempting to do a good thing for the people. Not only in judging issues and disputes between people, but teaching the laws and the statutes. As you can read from verse 13, he was doing this all day and into the evening.

        17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

        18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

        19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

        The advice Jethro gives Moses is what Jesus brings to the New Testament. We can wear ourselves out following every bit of the written law. We can be too law based in church rather than relationship based. 

        20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

        21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens;

        This verse bridges to the new testament. Jethro had this advice on the ready in verse 21.

        22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

        23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

        You could take a step back and examine verse 22 as an early model for the 5 fold ministry which is established in the new testament.

        24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

        25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

        26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

        27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

        Many believers today don't have any follow up when they witness or testify to others. Often times, they speak their testimony and depart. 

        You cannot have a functioning church with one type of personality. Look for the Jethro in the crowd. God is calling us to be a type of Jethro. One who is bringing sound biblical advice to family and friends.

        God will let something fall apart in your life to get you out of your comfort zone. God has something better in your life. We keep looking back at our bondage in Egypt like it was really a good thing while we got through a wilderness. God wants glory in every situation like Jethro gave after Moses' testimony. God wants us to be a Jethro. We need to have sound scriptural advice to give to family as well as loved ones.