STUDY THEME: BECOMING WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO BE. 7-21-02

"GOD WANTS ME TO BE HUMBLE." EX. 18:1-27; NUMBERS 12:3, HEB. 11:24-28

EXODUS 18: 13-18, 19-24; NUMBERS 12:3, HEBREWS 11:24-27

PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO EXODUS 18.

In Gal. 5:23, the Greek term gentleness was used to describe a person in whom strength was blended with gentleness. A humble person is a strong person whose strength is controlled, whose power is harnessed in loving service and considerate actions. Such gentleness is compatible with firm convictions and decisive actions. While a humble person is not a spineless individual, the New Testament teaches in Rom. 1:16 that one who is humble will not be overly concerned about his or her prestige. Phl. 2:5-11 teaches that a humble person is teachable and willingly follows Jesus’ example of humility.

True humility is not abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us. Augustine wrote that "it was pride that changed angels into demons; it is humility that makes men as angels." Humility is the genuine proof of Christian virtue. Humility is to make a right estimate of one-self. But humility is not seen as a desirable trait in a world where aggression and assertiveness seem to win. Jesus, in Matt.11: 29, referred to himself as meek and lowly in heart.

You will remember, Moses was a Hebrew raised in the Egyptian pharaoh’s palace. After Moses killed an Egyptian, he fled Eastward into the Sinai desert, to the land of Midian. In Midian, Moses eventually married Zipporah, one of the seven daughters, of Reuel. Her father is also identified in Ex. 3:1 as Jethro.

In his flight from Egypt Moses stopped at a well in Midian. Midian was a land east of the Sinai Peninsula and the Gulf of Aquaba and due south of Edom. There he met Jethros’ seven daughters, ran off some pushy shepherds who were harassing the women and helped them water their flocks. The daughters told Reuel of the events and he invited Moses to his house. Moses stayed with Reuel for about 40 years and married his daughter Zipporah. At the beginning of Ex. 3 Reuel is called Jethro. While shepherding the sheep of his father-in-law at mount Sinai, Moses encountered God at the burning bush. There he was commanded to leave Midian, return to Egypt and free Gods’ people.

1. PLEASE READ EXODUS 18:13-18.

This incident took place shortly after the Lord had delivered the Israelites from Egypt by the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. The Israelites were on their way to Mount Sinai, where the Lord made a covenant with Israel. As the Israelites approached that sacred place, Moses received word that his father-in-law Jethro was coming out to see him. Jethro was the priest of Midian, near Mount Sinai. Jethro was not an Israelite, but he worshipped the one true God.

When Jethro came to see Moses, he brought with him Moses’ wife and their two sons. When Moses met with Jethro, he told him the great things the Lord had done for Israel. Jethro rejoiced and praised the Lord for His blessings. While Jethro was visiting his son-in-law, the older man had the opportunity to observe how Moses spent much of his time. The day after Jethro arrived, in Verse 13, he observed that Moses sat to judge the people, and "the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening."

As an outsider, Jethro saw all that he (Moses) did to the people. Rather than making a snap judgment, Jethro asked Moses to explain what he was doing and why he was doing it this way.

Jethro’s questions anticipated the advice he later gave Moses, but he first wanted to hear Moses’ explanation for the method he was using. Sometimes we are so close to a situation that we fail to view it objectively. An outsider often can ask questions that lead us to take a more objective look at what we are doing and why we are doing it.

Jethro was a wise man. He showed consideration for Moses as well as wisdom in his approach. He could have immediately criticized the way Moses was acting as the only judge for all the people. Perhaps Jethro knew that a vigorous, successful younger man was not likely to listen to an older man, especially an in-law. At any rate, he began merely by asking Moses some questions about his procedure.

Moses could have taken offense at Jethro’s questions. After all, he was God’s appointed leader. Under Moses’ leadership, the enslaved people had been delivered from Egypt. He, therefore, could have thought, what does this old man know of leading so many people? Instead, Moses answered Jethro openly and honestly. In that society there was more respect for the advice of older people than is in our society today. Few married people want to hear advice from older people, especially their in-laws and often even their parents. They view this as criticism or interference.

In one sense, Moses was acting in anticipation of Jesus’ definition of true greatness. Jesus said that greatness in the kingdom of God is different from greatness or success by worldly standards. The world measures greatness by the number of those who serve the great person. In God’s kingdom, success is measured by humble service rendered to others. I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility; for humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues. Moses was giving himself to try and serve others. His fault was not in what he did but in trying to do it alone. He may have assumed that only he was qualified to serve as judge, when actually God had others who were qualified to serve especially if Moses trained them and gave them clear assignments.

Jethro then spoke straight to Moses. In doing so, he took something of a risk. Moses was a powerful man. Any other man with such power might have viewed what Jethro said as negative criticism and reacted against the critic. Jethro took this risk because of his consideration for Moses and for the people. He could sees what Moses had somehow failed to see—that although what Moses was doing was good and well intentioned, his procedure was not good, either for him or for the people.

Jethro explained that he feared that Moses and the people would "wear themselves out." If this continued, Moses had tackled an impossible task for one man to do alone. Moses would exhaust himself because he was trying to do too much single-handedly. And because the people had to wait all day for their cases to be heard, this was wearing them out also. Delay in rendering justice could create other problems such as people taking matters into their own hands in inappropriate ways, in bitterness, or in revolt.

These verses illustrate some of the characteristics of humility.

1. Giving of yourself in service for others is considered success or greatness in the kingdom of God. This was one of the strongest teachings of Jesus, and He lived in this way. When James and John came asking for high places in the kingdom, Jesus taught the disciples that God measures success in terms of humble self-giving service. Moses was giving himself totally for the people.
2. How you do such service is also important. Trying to do alone, what God intended to be done by many is not wise.
3. Consideration and respect for others is basic to humility. Both Jethro and Moses were considerate and gentle in their responses to each other.
4. Courage and tact are essential in giving advice. Openness and honesty are needed in responding to good advice.

2. PLEASE READ EXODUS 18: 19-24.

Jethro asked Moses to listen to his counsel. He felt that he was speaking for God, but Moses would have to decide that. Thus in verse 19 at the outset of his advice Jethro said, "God shall be with thee." This may have been either a promise or a prayer. In verse 23 at the conclusion of his counsel Jethro added, "If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so." The suggestions would be impossible without the assurance of the Lord’s presence, power, and command. This is an important lesson for us today. A new procedure is no solution if the Lord is not in it.

The advice that Jethro offered would achieve the objectives Moses had stated in verses 15-16. The difference would be twofold: (1) Moses would determine with the Lord’s help what were his primary tasks as leader. (2) Moses would appoint qualified people to do other tasks.

Jethro’s plan for settling the daily disputes of the children of Israel was to find some capable, godly, honest men who hate bribes and appoint them as judges. Not just anyone would qualify to serve in the positions of trust. People who serve as judges often are tempted to misuse their position for the sake of people of wealth and power. These judges must not be that kind of people. Jethro assured Moses that if he would follow his advice, and if the Lord agreed, Moses could endure the pressures, and there would be peace and harmony in the camp.

Moses listened to his father-in-law and followed his suggestion. The judges were appointed and made judges over the people—thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They were constantly available to administer justice. They bought the hard cases to Moses but judged the smaller matters themselves. God used Jethro to save Moses from over-working himself and he equipped Moses to be an affective leader.

Moses also had a unique role as teacher of these judges and of all the people. They needed to know what he knew about the ordinances and laws. Moses was to teach them these things. This teaching included showing them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

A wise and humble leader realizes that he must concentrate his time and energy on the heart of his calling and exercise the gifts God has given him. At the same time, he must enlist and train others to use their gifts and fulfill their calling. Often serving the Lord and His people is a team effort that includes others who help us do our part in God’s work. Lefty Gomez, the famous baseball pitcher, was asked the secret of his success. With a twinkle in his eye, he replied, "Clean living and a fast outfield." Lefty refused to take sole credit for his amazing success as a pitcher, and he knew the benefit of having others assist him.

When Moses had listened carefully and openly to the advice of Jethro, he recognized its wisdom and did all that he had said. This is a mark of a humble man. He is willing to listen to the advice of others without being defensive, and he must do all that God says to him by the advice he receives.

What lasting principles of humility are found in Exodus 18: 19-24?

1. The presence and power of God are necessary to live in humble service to others.
2. Each person must do what he is called and gifted by God to do.
3. Each of us must look not only at our own calling and gifts. We also must look at the gifts and calling of others, enlisting and encouraging them to do their part in God’s work.
4. Humble people listen to and take sound advice from others.

PLEASE TURN NOW TO NUMBERS 12:3.

1. PLEASE READ NUMBERS 12:3

In Numbers 12:1, it seems that Moses had remarried after the death of Zipporah. The marriage to the Ethiopian woman had been recent and furnished the pretext for the attack of Miriam and Aaron. Since Miriam is mentioned first, she probably instigated the attack against Moses. Possibly Miriam saw in Moses new wife a threat to her own standing as the major female figure in Israel’s leadership.

PLEASE TURN TO HEBREWS 11.

Hebrews 11 provides a summary of heroes and heroines of Hebrew history who trusted God. In a few verses the inspired writer of Hebrews summarized key decisions Moses made in faith. Although Moses had been raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, he made a conscious choice to identify with his own Hebrew people rather than to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Making that decision meant losing the power and prestige associated with the royal family in Egypt.

Moses’ decision involved a choice between experiencing mistreatment or enjoying the pleasures of sin. Although he lived long before Jesus came to earth, Moses’ decision to identify with the people of God was recognized as a choice for the sake of Christ. Rather than opt for the short-term value of the luxury and prestige associated with the ruling power in Egypt, Moses looked ahead to his reward.

Moses courageously bases his decision on realities that are invisible and future. He acted in faith. Many today base their decisions on the proverbial "here and now." They fail to consider God and eternity in making their choices.

Like Moses, some Christians today make costly decisions on the basis of their faith in God. At least in the eyes of many in our culture, these Christians are giving up much to follow Jesus. If I made my own list of courageous Christians, I would include people who followed Jesus when it cost them some of the pleasures of American society. For example, a ministerial student might decide to pastor a small church away from the Bible belt. If he stayed in his comfort zone, he might instead pastor a larger church in a suburb.

Moses took great risks in returning to Egypt to lead the Hebrew people out of slavery. He previously had fled Egypt because he had murdered an Egyptian taskmaster. Although the Lord had assured Moses (Ex. 4:19), Moses knew that he was returning to Egypt to deliver a message from God that would not be popular with the pharaoh. Pharaoh would not readily consent to setting his Hebrew workforce free.

The Christians I know in this country rarely are required to risk their lives to serve Jesus courageously, but sometimes they must give up popularity or financial success. For example, a Christian businesswoman who refuses to compromise her values on the job might risk losing a promotion.

Mature Christians often emphasize, however, that the Christian life is not about giving up things as much as it is about gaining from their relationship with Jesus. Christians do reject sin, but they experience an abundant life in Christ.

If we reviewed Moses’ life, we would find times when he was upset, frustrated, and discouraged. Overall, however, his life was meaningful because he had faith in God. He was looking ahead to his reward. Moses showed great strength of character as he courageously chose to leave behind Egypt’s treasures and identify with the people of God. Although humble, Moses was characterized by neither weakness of resolve nor timidity of action.

As Christians we can be courageous in our faith because we, too, can look ahead to our reward. We may experience satisfaction in our Christian journey because of the encouragement of other Christians, but our ultimate contentment comes from our faith in God.

Humility is not viewed as a desirable trait in a world where aggression and assertiveness seem to win. Moses, however, modeled the biblical concept of humility. As a leader, he humbly recognized that he faced an impossible task in attempting to judge all the people alone. Moses demonstrated humility by accepting his father-in-law’s wise counsel to delegate responsibility. The strength of Moses’ character reveals that humility is not weakness. This man of God courageously and humbly chose to follow God’s leadership and identify with His people rather than to remain in Pharaoh’s palace and enjoy its benefits. Christian humility is the courage to do the will of God no matter what the present cost.

Here are some scriptures you can take with you;

NEXT SUNDAY FROM DANIEL 1 WE LOOK AT THE LAST OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT TRANSLATED "TEMPERANCE" OR "SELF-CONTROL". THE FOUR HEBREW YOUNG MEN WILL BE OUR MODELS. A.V. DAUGHERTY 7-21-02