UNSUNG HEROS Jethro: Mentor, counselor, coach, father figure to Moses Exodus 18:7-27 June 16, 2019 Father’s Day

Welcome and intro to the series… This morning we’re going to dive into a character in the Bible that we all wish we had in our lives. Some of us are going to hear about this guy this morning and he is going to sound like a grandfather or a mentor you’ve had in your life. A few of you are going to hear a friend or a person who helped you through a tough time. For some of us, we’re going to wish we would have had a person like this around…it may have prevented a negative decision from ever happening. And some of us will hear this and be convicted that we need to be this kind of person to the young men and women in our lives.

So, this morning we’re going dive into a guy named Jethro. He first appears in the second chapter of the second book of the Bible, Exodus. He goes by two different names, the first one is Reuel in chapter 2 and Jethro in chapter three. We are not told why he goes by two names – we’re only left to guess. My suspicion is that he is like some people I know who are known by two different names. He lives in a place called Midian which is by the Gulf of Aqaba in what is modern day Saudi Arabia. This is dry, arid country where water is an essential aspect of life. We’re told that he has seven daughters and a guy named Moses – who many of us have heard of – meets them at a well. The daughters are getting water for their home and for their animals. Again, a lot of life revolves around water. We’re told that the girls go home, tell Jethro about their chance encounter with Moses and Jethro sends the girls back to the well to invite him home for supper. Interestingly, it says that Moses stayed with Jethro and ends up marrying one of Jethro’s daughters whose name is Zipporah. They have a son named Gershom. And Moses settles in to live as a part of Jethro’s household. It is while Moses is caring for the flock that he is called by God to lead the Israelites out of their captivity in Egypt…the whole burning bush thing…but, that’s another story.

Now, what’s interesting is that we are told that Jethro is “the priest of Midian.” The Midianites were the descendants of Midian, who was a son of Abraham through his wife Keturah. So, he is a godly man who is a convinced believer in the God of Moses. We’re told that Jethro visits Moses while the people are traveling out of Egypt for two reasons. The first is – it’s what parents do, they visit their kids. Julie and I have a daughter and son-in-law who live in North Carolina. Carter is the pastor of Fairmont First Baptist Church. Julie and Lindsay (our other daughter) went to visit almost immediately. They jumped on a plane to help them set up their new house. Back in February, after I finished up a conference in Atlanta GA, Julie and I drove up to Fairmont and stayed with them for a few days so that we could see how things were going a spend time with them. When Audrey and Carter worked in Colonial Williamsburg we visited there. When our daughter Lindsay and her husband Ed worked at Disney World in Orlando we visited there…it was terrible…but, it’s what parents do, right. And it’s what Jethro does. But, he has a secondary reason. Jethro is delivering Zipporah, the wife of Moses and their two son’s – Gershom and Eliezer to Moses. They have been with Jethro all through the Exodus events down in Egypt and now its time for them to be reunited.

There are some things that are recorded here that can teach us a lot about how we; as friends, relatives, co-workers, are supposed to care for and care about other people in a way that uplifts and encourages the other person to be the best they can be. We tend to want the best for other people. We don’t like to see people hurt or stressed out or going through difficult situations. And there are times that we are given a unique perspective from which we can speak into the life of another person.

Here’s what I mean…as a parent or a relative we get open doors from time to time when we get a chance to see something that’s going on in a loved one’s life. From the vantage point you have and with the knowledge of that person, you can offer some wise guidance and direction. Notice, I didn’t use the word advice. Most of us don’t need any more advice and for the most part we just don’t like unsolicited advice. So, let me just say this…let’s employ a mentoring/coaching approach when we see something happening in another person’s life. If we believe we have something constructive to offer, we can do what Jethro does. So, let’s look a little more in depth at Jethro’s interaction with Moses to catch four things he does on purpose that helps Moses and in-turn, helps out a whole bunch of other people as well.

When Jethro comes to visit Moses the first thing he does is he listens to Moses – who wants to tell Jethro all about what has just happened. There have been a huge number of miracles and God-moments that have happened in Moses’ life since he and Jethro were together. So, Moses wants to bring Jethro, his father-in-law up to speed, right. I don’t know if this is Moses trying to impress his father-in-law but, it could be. We do that right. Hey, I married your daughter and look, I turned out pretty good and God is doing awesome stuff. You can rest knowing that your daughter married well. And what does Jethro do, as far as we know, he recognized God’s presence in his son-in-law. He didn’t make the visit about himself but about Moses and the journey of the Israelites. And then, he throws a party to honor God and celebrate all of the great things that have happened. Jethro is a listener and an encourager. The story tells us that Jethro offered sacrifices to God and then threw a big party for all of the elders of Israel.

Jethro listens to the story and celebrates the wins. We all know how great it feels to just tell someone our story, right. Whether it’s a shopping story or a hunting story or a birth story or a kids ball game story. We love to recount the event. And when someone listens attentively, we feel valued and important. And when that persons says, “get everyone together, I’m taking everyone out to dinner to celebrate” we feel pretty awesome, don’t we? That’s what Jethro does for Moses and it’s what we can do for other’s too.

Listen to the stories and celebrate the wins. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence. Exodus 18:12 NLT

How many people in our lives could use someone who is just willing to listen and celebrate with them? Who needs us to talk less, listen more and to celebrate the wins that are happening in their lives? Can you identify one person right now…a family member, a co-worker, a friend who you need to get together with and listen to their story and celebrate their win. Write the name of that person down right now.

Okay, Jethro doesn’t stop there and neither should we. What does he do next? Moses goes to work the next morning and Jethro stops by to see how things are going. He notices something about the process Moses has employed to accomplish what must have been a massive task. We’re told that Moses has people coming to him from morning until night with their complaints…any mom’s in the room know how this feels? So, Jethro pulls Moses aside and says, “tell me about this process you have going here.” So, Moses tells Jethro that because of who he is, you know, the mouthpiece of God, that all the people line up for him to tell them what to do and in turn, he teaches them what God want’s them to do.

So, Jethro takes a step back, puts his hand on his chin and state the obvious…verse 17 tells us what Jethro says, “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. Now, Jethro has done the thing he needed to do to have Moses pay attention to his words…he gained his trust and confidence. Through his listening and his celebratory response to Moses’s wins, Jethro has gained the respect it takes to be heard. Let’s be honest…we tend to write off those who want to give us advice without first gaining our trust and respect. It’s important for us to catch what God is telling us in this account…there is a process. Gain the persons trust and respect before you speak into their lives. Only then can you state the obvious…which is what we are called to do and what Jethro does so well.

State the obvious “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. Exodus 18:17 NLT

Jethro tells Moses why this is not good. He’s concerned for the health – physical, mental and spiritual health – of Moses and his ability to keep this pace. Jethro loves Moses and he wants the best for him but, he also recognizes the impact this work ethic will eventually have on the entire people of God. He tells Moses that not only will he wear out but, the people will wear out waiting in line for you to tell them “thus saithe the Lord.” There are times when, once we’ve gained the needed trust, we just have to state the obvious because we care. The family member who keeps making poor decisions or the co-worker who keeps smoking even after they’ve been diagnosed with cancer, the person who keeps a roving eye after the wedding day. These things are not good. And there are times when we’ve been placed in the right spot at the right time to do what Jethro does the third thing I see him doing for Moses…identify the problem.

Identify the problem “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Exodus 18:18 NLT

This is not an easy thing to do and there are people who will not hear it. We tend to get too deep into our own situations and cannot or will not hear from those who are “outside looking in,” even if the advice is dead on. I’ve found myself on more than one occasion in the position where I saw something that to me was obvious but, the person who was in the middle of the situation could not and would not see it. They said something to the effect of – you just don’t understand. But, if that person is like Moses and willing to listen to the input of someone who has been given some insight and perspective, you can then take the next steps. That’s what Jethro does. He does what we all need to do, he offers a solution. Way too many times someone has pointed out our problem without a solution. And your reaction is probably the same as mine…thanks a lot, right. That’s what you were going to say, right? If we want to ruin the trust, blow the opportunity and possibly ruin the relationship…point out problem without offing solutions. In the book of James 2:16 we’re asked what good is it if: you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? NLT

Jethro has a workable plan that is going to help Moses, help the people with their troubles, and raise up a new group of leaders. WIN! Jethro offers a solution to the problem that is going to bring physical, emotional and spiritual health to the entire community. This solution is going to help everyone grow. It will give endurance to Moses, leadership to the gifted, and the people will be satisfied because they’ll have the answers they need.

Offer a solution If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace. Exodus 18:23 NLT

How would you like to be one of God’s unsung hero’s like Jethro. We hear a lot about Moses but, very little about Jethro. As a matter of fact, it says that once all this was done, Jethro packed up and went home and we never hear from him again. But, the entire community is affected by this one man and his guidance in the life of Moses. It’s Father’s Day…dad’s this is what we can do for our children, we can speak into their lives and in turn affect everyone they meet. Who’s that one person you are going to mentor/coach this week. Whose name did you write down earlier. Let’s pay for that opportunity to open up for us starting today.