Originally posted: 03/08/2019
… for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh,” (18:4).
Help:
*to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to; to aid, assist;
*to save; rescue; succor
*to make easier or less difficult; to facilitate
*to relieve (someone) in need, sickness, pain, or distress.
The word is out! Moses’ father-in-law has heard all that God has done and is moved to seek out Moses in the wilderness to hear the glorious details. Moses, in the naming of his two sons (Gershom and Eliezer), had acknowledged the sovereign Help of God. While he was an alien in a foreign land, Moses recognized that the God of his father had graciously placed him into a family of faith, to ultimately deliver him from the hand of the enemy.
“…two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 The other was named Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh,” (18:3-5).
But Moses was still in need of help. There were the demands of the people (at the very least one million) and duties that needed attention. Moses would once again need to come face to face with Sovereign God as his Help. Whether through miraculous deliverance or in daily dependence, Moses was enrolled in a lifetime school of learning, receiving instruction in the ways of dependence on Him Who Is Our Help.
Consider Him Who Is Our Help
- He Who Is Our Help is glorified when others see His mighty wonders on behalf of His people and come to know that the LORD is greater than all gods.
- Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God, (18:9-12 emphasis added).
- He Who Is Our Help provided exactly what was necessary for Moses, His overwhelmed servant in extreme danger of burnout, to accomplish his task.
- Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?”… 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone,” (18:14, 17-18).
- He Who Is Our Help rendered the assistance so desperately needed through the wise council of Jethro.
- “Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you,” (18:19).
- He Who Is Our Help provided a strategy to facilitate the demands Moses faced.
- “…then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens,” (18:20-21).
- He Who Is Our Help brought relief from stress, enabling His faithful servant to endure.
- “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said, (18:23-24).
How do we respond to Him Who Is Our Help?
- What a privilege to be used, that others might see and hear of His Help in our lives, to be radically and eternally impacted. Let us pray that others might come to “know that the LORD is greater than all gods,” as they witness us live our life with an enduring faith in Him Who Is Our Help.
- We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure, (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4).
- We experience and relate to the LORD by faith; but faith isn’t always easy. The LORD calls us to serve Him, and He will test and try our faith. Oswald Chambers said, “Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried.” So in reality, how can we possibly live by faith without the testings and trials; without needing faith? Our faith is a gift from Him and He is the One Who provides exactly what is necessary, and He is the One Who will graciously accomplish the task of perfecting our faith.
- For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus, (Philippians 1:6).
- The LORD has given us His Holy Spirit Who renders all the assistance ever needed. May we yield to Him in faith, trusting Him to faithfully lead us by His Holy and Wise council.
- “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you… 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you,” (John 14:16-17, 26).
- The LORD has provided the only strategy needed to enable the facilitation of any demand we face. In reality, it is so much more than a strategy; it is a privileged lifestyle. As we daily surrender our lives, trusting Him Who Is Our Help, He transforms and enables us to discern His perfect plan.
- Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect, (Romans 12:1-2).
- The LORD is faithful and brings the only remedy we need for stress. Let us reject the trap of anxious worrying about what is out of our control, for it will surely only add to our anxiety. Rather, we can choose to take Him at His Word as we bring all our cares to Him in faith with thanksgiving, trusting that His promise of surpassing peace will guard our hearts and minds in Him Who Is Our Help.
- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 4:6-7).
If we find ourselves struggling in this area of anxiety, let us refuse to linger there. Instead, let us run to His Word and linger before the LORD as our Help.
Psalm 121 is a great place to start; actually, it is an absolutely breathtaking place to meet Him Who Is Our Help.
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.