Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-02-06
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 9
JETHRo's COUNSEL.

1OIBEN 1EA1-Bear We one announcer .
burdens and SO fulfill the law OF Christ.
Gal 81.
ADDITIONAL. MATERIAI1-Luke 1911:
Acts 1918 Rom. 1s:l-24 1 Cor. 12;l2-a
PRIMARY TOPIC-Moses chooses help
ers. Memory. verse-"Come thou with
us and we will do thee good"
JUNIOR TOPIC-Working together.
Memory Verse; Cor. SO.
INTERMEDIATES TOPIC-Team work
in religion.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-co-op-
Grafton in the work OF the kingdom.
I. Jethro's Visit to Moses QS:1-6}.
1. The occasion ". ~. Upon receipt
of the news of the marvellous deliver
ance of the Israelites from the Egyp-
tians Jethro went out to meet Moses.
9. The object wv. 2-4). 1t was TO
bring to Moses his wife and children,
When God called him to go TO Egypt
to deliver his people Moses did not
deem it wise 10 take with him his wife
and children, therefore left them with
his father-in-law Now that God had
wrought 50 wonderfully it was deemed
wise for his family 70 join him.
3 The place wv 5, 81. AT Mt. Sinai
where the Israelites were encamped.
II. Moses Reception to Jethro us:
7-l2).
Moses honored him not only as his
father-inlaw. but as the priest Of Mid
IAN Jethro though outside of the
covenants people, evidently retained
traditions of the true God, as Melchiz-
edek before him did. 1t seems 10 have
been a case Of mutual affection and es-
teem Moses rehearsed to Jethro the
wonders which God had wrought
through him, and Jethro % ''Rejoiced
for all the goodness which the Lord
had done unto Pharaoh and the Egyp-
tians for Israels sake" ". %. 20
Blessed the Lord ". 100 CD Con
fessed the supremacy Of the Lord y.
11) "a Offered sacrifices to God ".
~.
III. Jethro'e Counsel (1S 1920
L. The occasion thereof wv. 1919
Tie day after Jethro came to Moses
he observed how completely Moses
time was taken ia judging Israel.
When he saw the greatness Of the task
he inquired as To why he was doing
the work all alone JethrO was a
Shrewsl mamie saw that wise ad.
ministration Of affairs would make a
division of labor. Moses explained to
him that his task was not merely a
matter of judging, but Of teaching the
statutes and laws OF God to the peo-.
pie. Jethro recognized Moses motive,
but insisted that the method was not
q good one, as it would result in the
wasting away of his strength. Many
times one wastes his strength in doing
that which others could do so that he
is unable to do the more important
things.
2. Jethro's plan wv. 1929. ~
Moses to be unto the people Godward
Ito bring their causes unto God and
teach them the ordinances and laws, to
show them the way wherein they must
walk, and the work which they must
dc. (2) Suitable men should be pro-
yided as rulers over thousands. hun
dreds, ffties and tens ". 2D. All
great matters should be disposed of by
Moses and all subsidiary matters
should be adjusted by these judges.
8. Qualifications of these subordinate
judges ". 21). ID able men," that
is, men of strength. They must be men
Of such intellectual power as would
enable them to understand the prob
lens presented, and of such will power
as to execute the judgments rendered.
A strong man Is one who knows his
ewn mind and Is faithful to it. (2)
"Such as fear God" This is the basis
of true strength, Only those are fit
to judge and rule men who recognize
the rule of God over their lives. The
true statesman Is the man who gives
God the rightful place in his life. The
one who really trusts and fears God
can be trusted to administrate the af-
fairs of men. (3) "Men of truth" The
one who really trusts and fears God
must himself be lover of the truth.
He must be willing to follow after the
truth at any cost His nature must
be open to the truth. "a Hating COW
etousness." He must be hater of I'M
just gain. The man who is to be a
ruler of the people must be free from
the suspicion of following his profess
sion because of personal gain. The
one set to do such work should be able
to show clean hands.
w. Moses Accedes to Jethro's coun-
sci us :24-26).
This common sense advice met a re-
Spouse in Moses heart. He recog-
nized that God was speaking through
qJethro After all, the knowledge and
fear OF God was wider than the
chosen people. According TO Deuter
onony lois the people selected the
judges and Moses appointed them.