Exodus Ch.18

Abba Father, we praise you LORD. We worship You and thank You for this day and what You are doing in our lives here and right now LORD. We thank You for the blood of Jesus Christ that is continually cleansing us, protecting us and transforming our lives. We invite You into our hearts LORD, speak to us and do only what You can do as we spend time in Your presence reading and sharing the Word today In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Exodus 18 unfolds with Jethro's visit. Jethro was a priest and Moses' father-in-law. On that day particular day, he came along with Zipporah, Moses' wife, and their two sons (Exodus 18:6). This chapter tells of how Moses was happy to see his father-in-law. He then proceeded to tell him of all the great things that the LORD had done for them on the way and how He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians and Pharaoh (Exodus 18:8-9). Jethro glorified the might and power of the LORD and he said, "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them." (Exodus 18:11). They then proceeded to offer scarfices and eat bread with Moses, Aaron and all the other elders of Israel in the presence of God (Exodus 18:12).

In the Old Testament, we can see that God's presence was only for a chosen few but now in the New Testament, the presence of God is for us all. In addition, not only do we have the LORD's external presence but we also have His internal presence because of the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us.

As born again believers who have a relationship with God, He says, to us that,"...I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5). This is the reason that we praise the LORD because in all things and at all times, He is with us. As we can see, the eating of bread before God is still a habit that we practice today. When we take holy communion at church, in the presence of the LORD, we are remembering what He did on the cross when He died for our sins by breaking bread which symbolizes the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Back to Exodus - on the following day, Jethro happened to observe that Moses spent all his day from morning to evening assisting the people with their needs and inquiring of God at the same time (Exodus 18:13-16). Jethro was concerned and suggested to Moses an alternative way of meeting the needs of the people without wearing himself out. He told him to continue to stand before God on behalf of the people but select other men who would judge the people in smaller groups and bring the bigger issues for Moses to resolve (Exodus 18:25-26). The criteria that Jethro suggested for Moses' selection was; "Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens." (Exodus 18:21).

There is wisdom in godly counsel and particularly of elders. In this case, God used Jethro to offer advice to Moses that not only made his duties more efficient but also less burdensome. This moment in Exodus 18 also captures the heart of God, that it is not in His love nature to let us carry heavy burdens. Whether, it is in ministry, work, family, or whatever situation you feel may be tagging at your heart right now. The LORD desires for us to be free and find comfort in His presence.

Jesus in His wisdom tells us to come to Him all who we are weary and heavy laden and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28-30). God does not desire for anyone to be burdened by the circumstances of everyday life. This is the reason He sent His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and later rose Him from the dead. When we choose Jesus Christ as our LORD and Saviour, we always have rest as He takes away all our burdens and in exchange He gives us His love, joy, righteousness and peace.

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to know this God who from the beginning of creation has always desired for you to be free from burdens and restored in relationship with Him through His One and Only Son Jesus Christ - whose faithful promises are yes and amen, whose mercy and love endures forever, I invite you to make this confession, "I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour today and forever."

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17). To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

I'll end with this Word from Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV)

"1.Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungoldy,

nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night,

3. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither;

and whatever he does shall prosper."

AMEN. THANK YOU LORD.

TO BE CONTINUED...