Exodus 19:9-25

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Exodus 18:13-27

Introduction

1. There is a danger of coming to a passage already knowing what it means.

2. Current passage – Moses cannot do the job of leading Israel alone. Jethro tells him to delegate and devolve some responsibility. So we must delegate and devolve responsibility in the local church – job done!

3. The importance of reading carefully – If we do then I think we find that it does have something to say about delegation of responsibility within the local church, but we will discover that there are other big issues here that we should not miss.

What Jethro saw – The problem 13-16

1. What is going on

a. V13 The implication is that this is Moses regular practice.

b. Moses is a very faithful servant of God and servant of the people. He has not shirked the task.

b. But in V14 Jethro immediately identifies that there is something wrong about Moses practice.

c. It is in V15 that we find out what is actually going on. "The people come to me to seek God’s will"

i. Contains three components

1. Seeking God’s will

2. Resolving disputes in accordance with God’s will

3. Informing of God’s decrees and laws.

1. It is not a simple problem of too much leadership responsibility on the shoulders of Moses.

1. Because at this point, there is no law, there is no accessible expression of the Divine will apart from Moses. If you want to know God’s will, you must go to Moses.
2. That is shortly to change because in the very next chapter, God will give the law.
3. For Israel, knowing God’s will no longer mean that they must enquire of the only individual to whom God speaks, because God will have spoken.

2. Jethro’s comment [v17] Included because it tells us what Jethro saw. In fact it’s a very important verse in the flow of the narrative because it tells us what the problem is in essence. The work of Judging in this way – of enquiring of, and conveying God’s will, and resolving disputes, and teaching God’s decrees and laws is too much for Moses and having only Moses to do it is too much for the people of God. (The people will wear themselves out too.)

What is going on? Some questions:

1. What does the passage tell us about seeking God’s will?

2. Israel is the people of God, but it is also a theocratic nation state, and we need to think carefully before simply imposing that model on the church.

3. The problem is not just a failure in leadership, Moses is the only means of knowing the will of God, and that burden is simply too much for him., or any other human being to bear.

4. How do we know the will of God? We don’t have to go to a Moses to tell us what God’s will is.

1. What a precious gift a perspicuous and accessible Bible is.
2. God’s word is accessible to us.
3. God’s word is “perspicuous” Clear – can be understood – not that it can’t be understood, but that when it is misunderstood it’s not the fault of God’s word.
4. How do I know God’s will?
5. Unpack – direct revelation? – Toomany pastors have been told “The Lord has told me” [Religion that prizes direct revelation, still small voice, promptings above the Scriptures is not Biblical, historic, orthodox Christianity. Because it is built on a fundamentally different foundation. Too many pastors have been told…
   1. First – Obey the commands of God’s word.
   2. Second – Attend to the wisdom of God’s word
   3. Then…

1. What does the passage tell us about the limitations of human leaders? You could come to the conclusion by the end of Chapter 17 that what you need is a Moses. He does start with questions – but does well – but Ex 18 shows that you need more than a Moses. You need a greater access to the will of God
   1. (Scripture already mentioned & a greater mediator.)
   2. Psalm 146 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  ⁴ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. ⁵ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, ⁶ the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Not a bad thing to remember in an election year.
   3. Christ who is able – who is sufficient – to judge.
   4. ^{Acts 17: 31}For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
2. Why does God not address the problem directly with Moses?

2. We need to have a joined up theology. The God of all the earth does address the problem, and he does it though Jethro. Common Grace

“God may use the means of “common grace” to instruct and enrich his people. The sovereign goodness and provision of God are displayed as much in bringing Jethro on the scene at this propitious moment as in the parting of the waters of the Red Sea.” D.A.Carson; for the Love of God

That said – we do find the principle of delegation in this passage, and that principle is picked up and developed in the NT – go on to look at what Jethro said.

What Jethro said – The proposal 19-23

So the essence is that Moses must continue to represent the people to God. He is to continue to teach God’s decrees and laws. He is to show them how to live and the duties that they are to perform, but much of the work of judging – the disputes that do not need Moses input – are to be delegated to suitable individuals.

This will be better for Moses, it will "make your load lighter" v22 is sustainable “you will be able to stand the strain” v 23 and it will be better for the people who will "go home satisfied." v23 (The implication is that before many went home frustrated unable to get to Moses.)

Again, what is going on – some questions…

1. To whom should Moses delegate?

1. Notice the qualifications to be looked for in the men who will serve in this way.
   1. They are to be capable. That is they should be up to the task and suitably gifted for it.
   2. They are to be those who fear God.
   3. They are to hate dishonest gain.
1. Does this have any new testament echoes?
   1. In fact isn’t it the case that Acts 6 is almost a new covenant equivalent of this passage?
   2. Those who are to serve (cf v13) in the word (cf v15) and prayer are in danger of getting sucked into and administrative task that resolves a dispute (cf 19 with Acts 6:1) that will need to neglect of their task and therefore those they serve (cf v23) And so a very similar solution is suggested with qualifications that echo to some extent the qualifications here.
   3. The purpose in acts – the continuing of Christ’s mission

1. What about 1 Cor 12:4-7
   1. v24 composed in ESV
   2. We are reminded of the need of a body of differently gifted individuals – which is how God has ‘composed’ the church.
   3. No one mortal can be sufficient for everything. Calvin uses the illustration of sun rays. One ray does not illuminate the world – but they all combine their operations as one. God calls us together in a community – called a church – and spreads his gifts amoungst us – not raising one individual who can do it all.

What Moses did – The outcome 24-27

So the essence is that Jethro’s advice is well received. That even Moses can learn from another’s advice, and is willing to do so.

Questions

Do we learn anything from Moses here?

1. The humility of Moses. He is prepared to listen to Jethro’s advice. This is Moses – called and selected by God to lead his people. To confront Pharoah. To lead God’s people through the red sea. The who’s arms must stay up so that the Battle with the Amelekites is won.

2. It is tragically easy to imagine a leader – don’t you tell me how to do my job. Leadership is biblical and essential. But it must also be humble. And he does what Jethro says

3. Calvin:

We are warned that in all the most excellent acts of men some defect is ever lurking, and that scarcely any exists so perfect in every respect as to be free from any stain.

Let all those, then, who are called on to be rulers of mankind know, that however diligently they may exercise their office, something still may be wanting, if the best plan that they adopt be brought to examination.

Therefore let all, whether kings or magistrates, or pastors of the Church, know, that whilst they strain every nerve to fulfill their duties, something will always remain which may admit of correction and improvement.

4. (Even Moses could do better – we can always do better

5. And for others – are there those who correct us?

6. Pro 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

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Justin Taylor explains how here. But is it OK to listen to God’s word? Well I think it’s good to reed and meditate too, but Justin says:

In listening to an old lecture recently by J. I. Packer, he made the comment that it was not until after the 17th century (as far as he could tell) that people started doing silent prayers and reading as opposed to praying and reading out loud.

For most evangelicals, silence represents the vast majority of our reading and praying. But I wonder if that’s to our detriment. One of the great enemies to Bible reading and praying is a wandering mind—and one of the great ways to make your mind wander is to do everything in your mind without involving your voice and ears!

HT. Justin Taylor