Names tell the story
• Gershom in Hebrew means “ there.”
• Eliezer in Hebrew means “God is my .”
• Together the names Gershom and Eliezer told the of Moses’ life: “I was a stranger there, but God is my helper.”
How has God told your story?
Who was the focus of the report that Moses gave his father-in-law?
10 Commandments from the beginning
• The phrase “the statutes of God and His laws” in verse 16 refers to the .
• Cain knew that murder was sin (Genesis 4:8-13).
• Shem and Japheth demonstrated acquaintance with the law by shunning indecency (Genesis 9:23).
• The Philistine king Abimelech declared adultery to be “a great sin” (Genesis 20:9).
• Long before the Law was given, God blessed Abraham “because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Genesis 26:5
• The Bible record shows the 10 Commandments had been known from the .
Lightening the load
• The Hebrew word translated “” in Exodus 18:22 means “to take cargo from a ship.”
• Proper multiplies ministry effectiveness while giving others a chance to grow.
• “I would rather put 10 men to work than do the work of 10 men.” — D.L. Moody
“If you do this thing, God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” Exodus 18:23
• Notice that the administrative procedure and the laws do not originate from within the community. Jethro, as an , is used by God to introduce them. We need fresh perspectives needed from objective people.
• However, we can expect resistance. Consider the following statement:
“In the appointment of the seventy elders Miriam and Aaron had not been consulted, and their jealousy was excited against Moses. At the time of Jethro’s visit, while the Israelites were on the way to Sinai, the ready acceptance by Moses of the counsel of his father-in-law had aroused in Aaron and Miriam a fear that his influence with the great leader exceeded theirs. In the organization of the council of elders they felt that their position and authority had been ignored. Miriam and Aaron had never known the weight of care and responsibility which had rested upon Moses; yet because they had been chosen to aid him they regarded themselves as sharing equally with him the burden of leadership, and they regarded the appointment of further assistants as uncalled for.” Patriarchs and Prophets 382.4
Conclusion and appeal
• Encourage each other to participate in God’s and thus grow in Christ.
• Let’s others about what God has done for us, our family, and our church.