God's Remarkable Overpowering of His Enemies

God and his faithful people are always confronted with opponents [enemies, adversaries], both external and internal. As the composer of the Book of Exodus moves the story from the Red Sea to the northwest to Mount Horeb=Sinai to the southeast, two opponents encounter God and his people. This blog sketches these two encounters.

1. At Rephidim, where the Israelits complain because they are thirsty, and God commands Moses to strike the rock, and water bursted forth and provided abundant water for the people (Exodus 17:1-7), a wandering people attacked the Israelties. At God's guidance, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill, and Joshua led the Israelites into battle against the Amalekites. As long as Moses lifted his hands, the Israelites prevailed; but when Moses became weary and had to lower his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. So Aaron and Hur took a stone and put it under Moses, and they help up his hands on either side, and the Israelites defeated the Amalekites. To commemorate this significant event, Moses built and altar, and called it: "The Lord is my banner." For many generations, the Lord continued to have war witht he Amalekites. Exodus 17:8-16.

2. As the Israelites moved further south and encamped at the mountain of God, that is, Mount Horeb=Sinai, Jethro came from Midian to this place. Moses told Jethro all the mighty acts of God in Egypt and at the Red Sea. Jethro listened, and rejoiced. Then Jethro said:
"Blessed be Yahweh [the Lord], who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. NOW I KNOW THAT YAHWEH IS GREATER THAN ALL GODS, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them." Then Jethro offered a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Jethro ate bread with Moses and the people of Israel in the presence of God. Exodus 18:1-12.
This passage clearly teaches that God CONVERTED Jethro from his Midianite origin and gods and practices to the worship and service of Yahweh. Jethro's sacrifices and meal are a religious communion with the people of God. God often "overpowers" his enemies by "converting" them from their former manner of life into a new life under God.

God then uses Jethro to help Moses. The Israelites have numerous problems, and this completely consumes all day every day for Moses. Obviously, Moses' task is "too heavy." He cannot do this work "alone." Jethro immediately sees the problem, and proposes a reasonable solution. Choose "able people," people who "fear God," "trustworthy," people who "hate dishonest gain" (Exodus 18:21). Organizes these people among the nation. Have the assigned selected people deal with "minor" cases, and only the "major" cases will come to Moses. Exodus 18:13-27.
Often, gifted, conscientious people think they should do "all the work" in God's kingdom themselves. But the Bible teaches [and common sense indicates] that the people of God, the "body" of God, the "family" of God, the church of God is made up of many wonderful people. When will we ever learn that we should entrust the ministries of God to "able people," people who "fear God," "trustworthy," people who "hate dishonest gain," and freely and openly let them do their ministries? The idea that a pulpit minister or a CEO or an eldership or an overseer should "micro manage" every ministry of God is absurd!!! AND UNBIBLICAL!!! AND UNCHRISTLIKE!!!

God accomplishes his purposes in numerous ways. Often, he does this by overcoming hard-hearted enemies on the one hand, and by converting opponents--like Jethro and Saul of Tarsus--and many others. THEN, God uses these people as God's instruments to glorify God and serve others.

Has God "overthrown" your heart and your life, and is now using you as God's instrument for his purposes? Can you see God working in these ways in your family, your church, your community, your state, your country? Tell me your stories. God is at work even today.

John Willis