READING FOR JULY 5, 2024: EXODUS 18, 1 Thessalonians 1, PSALM 65:1-8 EXODUS 18 For reasons not given, but perhaps for their protection or for not complicating Moses’s task, we learn that Moses’s wife and two sons had been sent away for a period of time. Now Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, came to visit and brought Moses’s family with him. Some of us have had a role helping our adult children and their children during certain times. This can be a valuable ministry and can help us convey our faith to future generations.
Moses welcomed his father-in-law with great respect. We know that the care that Ruth and Peter provided for their mothers-in-law was viewed favorably in the Bible. Respect for our in-laws appears to be a Biblical best practice. The unhurried nature of their time together might be middle eastern custom, but it certainly fostered a productive relationship in this case. Contemporary American life is often so frenzied and time constricted by contrast.
Jethro’s reaction to God’s work through Moses is enthusiastically positive. He states he now knows that the God of Israel is greater than all other gods and joins Moses in offering a sacrifice. It is not clear if this represents a faith conversion or whether Jethro had reached a new level of understanding of and commitment to God. Whichever it is, though, it is good. Moses’s attributing these successes to God rather than himself, no doubt played a key role.
Jethro then watched Moses in action on the job. Having a pair of trusted eyes to provide us with constructive feedback can be good. It shows that Moses is open to growth and not personally threatened. Moses later performs this mentoring role with Joshua, as Elijah does with Elisha, and much later Paul with Timothy. Even older folks can benefit from being in an accountability relationship with someone or a trusted small group. John Wesley called these “class meetings” and “bands.” He required them for Methodist churches and credited them with growth in holiness and the stability of the churches.
Jethro suggestions are as apt today as they were then. A leader cannot do it all. He/she needs to empower all the people with knowledge of essential principles and then set up an organizational structure that delegates authority in manageable amounts. The fact that Jethro suggested Moses seek God’s approval for this plan implies that Moses did, and God approved. This structure was good for Moses and good for the people. Paul’s pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus tell us how the church should incorporate these principles today.
1 THESSALONIANS 1 Paul addresses this letter as also coming from Silvanus (also known as his missionary partner Silas) and Timothy (a younger associate of Paul who gave leadership in Ephesus). Paul is never shy about wielding his apostolic authority, but he is also a practitioner
READING GUIDE FOR JULY 5, 2024 CONTINUED: 1 THESSALONIANS 1, PSALMS 65:1-8 of collaborative leadership. Once again in his opening, we see Paul telling a church that he is praying for them. Could we be more intentional about telling others we are praying for them? Paul says he makes mention of them. Perhaps this means he doesn’t pray for hours for each church or person, but at least mentions them. This might make us feel better about at least listing or saying the names of those for whom we are praying. Here again we see the principle of cause and effect or the virtuous cycle that reappears often in Paul’s writings: faith leads to work, love leads to labor, and hope leads to perseverance. True godly virtue is never static or isolated but leads to other virtues.
Paul commented that his time in Thessalonica of sharing the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit (not his words only) produced Christians worthy of being models for other churches. This shows that Paul is able to view events from a long-range heavenly perspective rather than a short-term human one. Paul was only in Thessalonica for three weeks before the following happened: “The Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people... The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea” (Acts 17:5-10).
PSALM 65:1-8 Normally, the New American Standard Bible is used for these study guides. For this chapter, the New International Version was chosen due to its greater understandability for the writer. The opening statement is so welcoming to God in that His people are eagerly awaiting to praise Him upon His arrival. What a concept for us to consider as we await the start of Sunday worship services each week; imagine the kind of energetic anticipation this would engender. The next phrase promises that His people will fulfill their vows to Him. We might think we don’t make vows to God, but consider some of the hymns we sing in church: “I Surrender All,” “Take My Life and Let it Be,” “I Love to Tell the Story," and “Where He Leads MeI Will Follow.” It might be good to check what we are committing to do before we sing some of these hymns.
The next verses praise God’s attributes as they interact with us, His people. He forgives us, blesses us, brings us near, and fills us. Verse five is especially poignant. The creator and sustainer of the universe answers our comparatively puny requests in awesome ways—most significantly in being our Savior! Could we stop for 10 seconds to reflect on this? He is our God, our personal God, but He is the God and the only hope for all the earth. All creation, including the seas and the mountains in every time zone, is awed by this God of David and of Yorktown Methodist Church. This is the God who beckons us to sing songs of joy.LET’S SING.
