Lesson 7: The Lord of Hosts is With Us
Exodus 17-18
It was the presence of the Lord that gave Moses the strength and confidence he needed to lead the people of Israel during their wanderings toward the Promised Land. He had a difficult task, a thankless army of former slaves questioned his every move and more importantly, they questioned his motives. As he tried to mold them into a godly nation it seemed resistance was present on all issues. But, Moses persevered. The events recorded in these two chapters reveal to us what the presence of the Lord means to God’s people and their leaders as they are on their pilgrim journey.
Read 17:1-7
1. What was leading the people as they moved toward Mount Sinai? ___________________
2. How important are tangible signs of God’s presence to you in your daily life? __________
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3. What are some of the signs you have witnessed? _______________________________
4. Why did God give them another test involving water? ___________________________
5. Where were the “hearts” of the people? ______________________________________
6. Can you relate to Moses’ attitude show in 17:4? ________________________________
7. How do you interpret this statement?
“Every difficulty God permits us to encounter will become either a test that can make
us better or a temptation that will make us worse. It is our own attitude that determines which it will be.”
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Read 17:8-16
8. Who was the enemy facing Israel and what was their ancestry? ____________________
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9. Who did God choose to lead the Israeli’s in battle? ____________________________
10. What did Moses do during the battle? ______________________________________
11. What was a tangible sign that God was with them in the fight? __________________
12. What did Moses do to commemorate the victory? ____________________________
13. Why do you think God chose to let them fight their own battle instead of sending the heavenly hosts to intervene on their behalf? _____________________________________
Read 18:1-6
14. Who was Moses’ father in law? How did he hear about the events of the Exodus?
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15. Describe Moses’ welcome extended to Jethro. ________________________________
16. Why is hospitality and respect important to a Christian? ________________________
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17. How did Jethro display his love and appreciation for what God had done for the Israelites?
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18. What problem was Moses having that came to light when Jethro came to visit?
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19. What advice did Jethro give Moses to solve the problem? ________________________
20. How does the practice of “delegation” contribute to our success in Christian ministry?
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21. What criteria did Jethro state for selecting those that would assist Moses?
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According to Deuteronomy 1:9-18, Moses shared Jethro’s advice with the people. He admitted his own weaknesses, and his weariness, and asked them to select leaders to assist him. They approved of this plan and selected officers whom Moses then charged with the responsibilities of their offices. Later, when they moved into the Promised Land, they appointed leaders in each town to assist in resolving disputes that would arise. God is a God of order, simply look at creation for proof. He wanted all of His people to enjoy security and justice in the camp and in the land.
Whenever ministry and structure collide, and ministry is hindered, we must adjust the structure. Confining organizations, useless rules and regulations and ineffective leaders limit the work of God’s people. The emphasis in the Bible is not as much on organization as such, but on the type of organization that will enable qualified and talented ministers to work effectively. Organizations that resist change are not based on scriptural models but more on human tradition and memories. God blesses those open to change, so long as the principles and truths of God’s Word are held intact. Just think of the change experienced by the people of Israel as they emerged from several hundred years of living in Egypt to being a new nation, ordained by God, on the march to their new home. Praise God for change.