Frustrating Grace

Exodus 18:1, 5-6, 8

When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt; And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

How shall they hear without a preacher. Is it not wonderful when you go to hear the Word of the Lord. Better still when that Word is in your house and in your family. Nor does it sit on the shelf and take up space like some people are wont. Rather, this Word does something. While we are on the matter of perspective, there is often a funny story told about a certain world leader who shall remain unnamed. It goes he was told about a Brazilian solider killed during a time of heightened tensions. Without missing a beat, he broke down crying and asked, 'how many is a Brazilian.' Now, that story is absolutely not funny at all. In fact, I apologize for even sharing it. But is that not just how some of you do sometimes. You go through life assured that all is doom and gloom just like chicken little.

Sure, you might have been through a few things. I am not disputing that. But how many of you ever take time to look at what all God has done. The things he has brought you from would have taken you out but for the Lord. You would have been dead but for him. You would be a mess but for him. You would not even be here today but for him. Maybe your story is like that of the children of Israel and Jethro. Perhaps it is not. But look, he brought them from a mighty long way. Notice how Jethro came as soon as he heard. It seems the grace of God is worth getting up for. Also, Moses' response to it is telling. See, had the effort been mine that delivered the people, I think I would be a lot more selective about who I let in my tent. Yet the delivery was all the Lord's. Jethro just happened to bring some more people along to see. It seems these too are in need of his grace. So, Moses, as a good servant would, lets them all inside.

And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her. And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.

Only in verse eight does Moses begin to tell his father-in-law all that the Lord had done. If you remember, the last time Moses saw his father-in-law-law was in the middle of a Midianite desert near a certain mountain. Here Daddy dearest seems awfully well informed. In another place, he complains that Moses did too much in his own sight. So also, was he right, all the glory was found of the Lord. Look now, he presents Moses with his wife and sons. Yet did not Moses take his wife with him when he left his father-in-law. You might have missed it in between her many complaints of him being a bloody husband to her. See the genealogy of the Levites as direct descendants of Abraham as discussed prior. So, if your view of the Scripture is correct, you mean to tell me that Moses and his brother Aaron wandered off from the Lord's people to be joined unto a heathen tribe.

Look here at how dearest, proudest daddy is the priest of the same said heathen tribe. If Aaron is his brother, who then are his siblings-in-law. So also, can the same be said for Miriam. I love how his unnamed parents just got married but magically had an older sister for Moses at the same time. Speaking of traditions, Jewish synagogues customarily recite something known as the Shema weekly. This is essentially a text taken from says 'hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord.'

Today he is known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But is he not the God of Aaron and Hagar too. People want to dismiss this today. Yet what they should actually be saying over there now is 'one land, one people, and one family too.' For so it has been from the beginning. Some of you get so caught up on that little word Israel that you tend to forget what makes it up. Some of you have even forgotten your history, from whence you came, and whom is in your house. Some of you also get so caught up in what is happening that you forget whose the house is. My, all this nonsense of breaking up the family and the house is really not of God. Here we meet former high priest of Midian, Jethro. The question remains is he not Amram now, the servant of the Lord. It certainly seems that way. You decide; in the meantime, I will ask if I should see the Lord. Oh, how we all need his grace today.