"CAN YOU TAKE ADVICE? ARE YOU A WORKAHOLIC? HAVE YOU 'RUN OUT OF GAS' IN YOUR Life's WORK? MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE RACING TOWARDS WHAT TODAY IS CALLED 'BURNOUT.'"

I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment permit me to tell you about a man who lived thousands of years ago, who had the best advice for such 21^st century people…

…Since my message today is entitled: “JETHO’S PLANS,” you rightly can ask – “Who in the world is Jethro?” Well, unless you are a real Bible scholar and Bible enthusiast, you'll shrug your shoulders in bewilderment. However, the name Jethro is a very real part of the Bible. In the Old Testament, we come across this man and his influence upon one of the greatest men and leader who ever lived! Yes, Jethro too was a great man, who made and ever greater man, the greatest of all for his day, perhaps for ages to come, and even all time. Indeed, the Bible has many stories, or better yet factual accounts of men and women who did great things because they were yielded to God in their life and living. So today on the broadcast, I want to talk about this almost insignificant and forgotten man in my message called: JETHRO'S PLAN. But before I do, let's pause once again and listen to this…

…When I read the Bible I often enjoy looking into it to find seemingly insignificant people. Once I do, I like to explore all that pertains to them because one thing I know -- if God has taken time to include them in the Bible, they are there for some very important reasons and learning for readers of all ages. In fact, the Bible tells us that all the Bible's stories, accounts, people and happenings are recorded for us to learn thereby. Scripture says,

Rom 15:4 (NIV) "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Indeed, everything in the Bible is written down by the Spirit of God for us to learn from. So today we'll learn from this rarely spoken of man named Jethro.

Now who is he? We'll we have to go to the Old Testament, for in the book of Exodus, we come face to face with him. For starters we discover his name is mentioned 11 times in nine verses. We first read of him in,

Exo 3:1 (NIV) "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God ."

We are immediately introduced to this man, Jethro, as the "father-in-law" of Moses. Well, in order to reduce time, I'll condense what happened to bring this fellowship and family together. Moses of course, many know, was the adopted son of Egypt 's Pharaoh's daughter. Moses was a Jew whose life was spared when an edict came down to destroy all the Jewish newborn males. God preserved his life and caused events to transpire that brought Moses into the household of Egypt 's ruler. However, when Moses reached manhood, he learned of Egypt 's increasing hatred for and abuse of his people Israel . Trying to rectify the situation himself, he bungled things and fell afoul of the law of Egypt and his family by murdering an Egyptian who was abusing a fellow Israelite. Moses fled to the desert to escape punishment, and on the other side met a beautiful girl named Zipporah. Zipporah was one of the daughters of a wealthy Midian priest named Jethro. As was the custom of the day Moses married Zipporah (Exo. 2:16 -21) and settled down to live with her family as Jethro was the patriarch. For forty years Moses tended his sheep, although God had rather intended he was to deliver Israel from the oppressive and abusive hand of Egypt 's slavery. One day in the desert, suddenly a dry bush burst into flame and out of it the voice of God, the Creator of the Universe, spoke to Moses. At this point Moses was not to deliver Egypt , but only  "yielded" himself to God's directives and ways. Moses was so awestruck that obedience was all that mattered. We read and pick up the story in,

Exo 4:18 (NIV) "Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive." Jethro said, "Go, and I wish you well.""

Continuing on in the story of Israel 's deliverance by the hand of Moses, he leaves for Egypt and takes along his wife of forty years and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. However, for some reason not mentioned, Zipporah and her sons turned back and returned to her father Jethro. Perhaps Moses pleaded with her not to come, fearing possible slavery, bondage or death for them in this dangerous work of freeing Israel from Egypt 's fierce enslavement. Well many months pass and we know from biblical history God delivered Israel from Egypt 's hand and brought them all, out into the desert to camp at the base the famous Mount Sinai . There almost a million and half Jews awaited Moses' further leading and instruction. I think most know the story at this point, where God meets Moses on the top of Mt. Sinai and gives Israel His written Law for life and living in the Promised Land.

Well, prior to God giving of these Ten Commandments, Jethro's family and his wife and children visit the Israelite camp at Rephidim near Sinai, the mountain of God . Jethro’s goal for visitation was two fold: (1) to bring back to Moses, his daughter and wife and their two sons, (2) after hearing what mighty things the God of Israel had done, Jethro a priest of the Midian peoples, was born anew by faith in the God of Israel. We read of Jethro's spiritual response in,

Exo 18:10-12 (NIV) "He said, "Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly." 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God."

What an amazing report and happening! Here is Jethro, a descendent of Abraham through his late wife, Keturah (Gen. 25:1-2). When Abraham was old and his beloved wife Sarah has died, he took a Gentile woman named ‘Keturah’ as his wife. She bore six sons, one being Midian. It is believed that as the years and descendents grew, that a remnant of the true knowledge of God was passed down to Jethro, who was deeply interested in spiritual things. He became a priest of the Midianites, who had by this time spiritually degenerated into idolatrous worship. Yet, we must remember, deep within the soul of even the lost Gentiles, God had planted the light of eternity. Jethro from all accounts, was a "seeker" of God, the true God of Creation. Yet, without God sending the saving light through His servants of truth, no man will ever find the one true God. However, Jethro found the true God “Yahweh through Moses. Now, there is a promise in the Bible concerning this. Do you know what it is? Listen,

Deu 4:29 (NIV) "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

Isn't that wonderful? God says for those who are truly seeking Him, regardless of where they are spiritually, no matter how lost or dark the way is for any soul, they will be given the light of God to find Him! Jethro was given that light and this wise seeker found Him, and so confesses the God of Israel as his God. Praise God!!

But now what else do we know about Jethro? What about my opening statement about being able to take advice and not suffering burnout? Well the story now begins to unfold. Listen as I read to you about Jethro and Moses his son-in-law.

Exo 18:1 (NIV) "Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt."

Exo 18:9 (NIV) "Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians."

Exo 18:13-14 (NIV) "The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?""

Now my wife and I have five children, all of whom are married. So to be a father-in-law is something I am familiar with. Here we find Jethro, Moses' father-in-law watched Moses as he went about the work of keeping peace among the people of Israel . Mind you, here were a people of more than a million and half, who waited upon Moses' commands for every need. Of course disputes arose in living so closely together in the desert, and matters came before Moses which needed his advice and counsel. As the Bible said, from sun up to sun down Moses tried to meet all the people's needs as he judged every situation. It soon became exhausting for Moses as well as the people who stood in line for hours upon hours and even days upon days to get Moses advice.

In the midst of this Jethro, an observer, saw that Moses was about to "burnout." So, he steps in with advice. Now as a father-in-law myself, the one thing I stay away from is telling my adult children what to do. However, when necessary I will offer advice, and leave the action on it towards my children's prerogative. Jethro was an intelligent man in this respect. He gave advice, and strongly so, but left the results to Moses.

However, at this point I want to interject. "Burnout" is not something new. Even Moses was about to suffer it from overwork, and under-management. Today in our stressed out society this is a real danger! For there are warning signs one must look for to see this coming on even us today. For instance classic warning signs of pending “burnout” are:

1. Having more work than one is able to handle in a normal days work. Watch out for taking on too much for your ability to manage. We must not attempt to do more on a regular basis than time permits.

2. Watch out for a growing negative attitude in work habits and relationships. When stress reaches a potential burnout level, you will become very negative, irritable, and impatient with deep feelings of being unappreciated.

3. Be watchful for a decreased ability to function or perform. This comes hand in hand with a detachment or withdrawal from people and co-workers, excessive and chronic fatigue or lack of energy and depleted motivation, with the "I don't feel like doing anything, anymore," growing in your life.

4. When Burnout is almost there, comes physical problems such as constant headaches, backaches, stomach problems, coupled with growing depression, disorientation, confusion and even suicide!

These are classic warning signs that we are doing too much, and since we won't change things, our bodies and mind will take action! Overwork today is a norm in our technical, high volume business world, not to mention spiritual ministry many pastors and missionaries are in. It's not uncommon for workers to put in 70-80 hour work weeks just to get the assigned work done! Do you know that many pastors are suffering burnout faster than any other occupation. How those who do, need a Jethro by their side. For Moses' father-in-law, Jethro offers Moses a plan to avoid burnout! Listen to it from God's Word,

Exo 18:17-23 (NIV) "Moses’ father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.""

Here in Scripture, we find perhaps the greatest advice anyone could ever get who approaches the burnout stage from over work. Jethro's plan of practical wisdom was of immense benefit to Moses and Israel , and has been lauded as an example of delegation and management organization by efficiency experts for centuries and still is. Now some commentators do not agree and in fact some criticize it as a worldly plan that God never approved. I tend to disagree with that. Here's why:

First of all, Jethro has already proven that he was a sensitive, God seeker, and when true light dawned upon His souls, he confessed Jehovah , Israel 's God as his own. This was a humbling thing to let the whole world know that the gods you served before were false, and you were deceived, but now he publicly stood up to follow the true God! Here was a man of great integrity. In fact Moses acknowledged this for Moses followed his advice. Secondly, Moses did not follow it without first praying and checking with God. We read in,

Exo 18:23 (NIV) "If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.""

Note the phrase, "if God so commands," stated Jethro. He did not tell Moses to do this without God's approval. Moses of course did that, he sought God’s Word, and it appears after God gave the Ten Commandments, God approved the plan for delegating authority and managing the organization of it in civil and spiritual matters, and Moses then implemented it. Now mind you the plan called for choosing helpers or "judges" who would uphold the spiritual truths of God's Laws. Jethro said,

Exo 18:21 (NIV) "…Select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens."

Indeed this advice is timeless, and even in the New Testament God required the same for leaders in the church (Acts 6:3;1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).

Now I wonder today, in leadership, how many of us are like Moses? Here was the leader of more than a million people in his congregation. He was "the" leader! Indeed, God had appointed him alone, no one else! Yet, God approved Jethro's plan to share the ministry work, to form a team of gifted, godly men to work along side him, with him and under him.

I tell you Jethro's plan is for all ages. It can work for you too. Regardless of where you work, what you do or how you do it. You can train others, disciple them, and equip them to help, serve, or assist you in any and all work you may have. And, one thing was sure. Moses had to stop working so hard, or else he would burnout and be of no use to God or man.

Sadly in the ministry today, some zealous new starts and driven people think it is godly to "burnout" for Christ. I'm sorry the years have taught me, it is better to "rust out," so God has maximum usage of us in His work for Christ. Yes, we must be careful not to overwork, no allow anyone to drive us to do this too. You and I friend, God has made us in His image and we are sovereign in that sense. If your work is demanding, and there is absolutely no way to get relief, or help from the overwork you are doing -- then you are doing too much work which frankly God never intended for you to do!

My advice as a "father-in-law" is to find a way to disciple others to help you, or cut back, or get out of any abusive situation that is driving you to an early grave. God never intends anyone to burnout! That's ‘Satan's plan,’ not ‘Jethro's plan,’ which I believe actually came to his mind from God Himself.

Friend, isn't it wonderful that God cares and has a plan for us? The Bible says that exactly in,

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Yes, God's greatest plan revealed in the Bible is the plan of salvation. God distinctly tells us that before He made the worlds, He planned to save us from sin and death's penalty. How? God planned to send to earth, His Son Jesus Christ. History reveals He came and fully accomplished this great and glorious plan! Yes, Jesus Christ was born the infinite God/Man, for it was God himself who became a man,

John 1:1 (NIV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

This God/man Jesus Christ went to Calvary 's Cross to die for the sins of the world. God the Father accepted Christ's death as full payment for the sins of all the world’s sinners. Thousands of years ago Jethro, Moses and the people of Israel , accepted God's plan. Their Messiah had not yet come but the sacrifices God instructed them to offer pointed towards the God/Man who would come and deliver them from their sins. Now 2000 years later we look back and like Jethro and Moses looked forward -- together we see God has offered us salvation full and free through Jesus Christ the Lord.

How can one be saved, not just from "burnout" but from the fires of Hell to come? By placing your faith as Jethro did, in the living God who is revealed to us today in Jesus Christ. Have you confessed your sins? Confessed perhaps following false gods for many years, or no god at all? Have you spoken out and made a clear decision to follow the one true God revealed in the New Testament who is Jesus Christ? Jethro was not only a management skilled observer with good advice, he also was one who took advice too. When he saw the God of Israel use his son-in-law Moses, and deliver his people from the mightiest nation on the earth in that day,  Jethro bowed before this God and yielded his life.

Yes friends, Jethro's simple but biblical plan may be for you too who face burnout like Moses. However, his greatest plan was found when he trusted in ‘Yahweh’ now revealed to us, as Jesus Christ! May the same light dawn on your soul, and may the wisdom, knowledge, humility, high character of Jethro illumine your path to glory and God's grace today for Jesus sake, Amen…

…Now that you know all about Jethro. We futher discover from Scripture that Jethro went back to Midian to minister to those who still dwelt in his homeland. But I'm sure he went back to declare the ‘Good News’ he had found the one true God! Now Moses of course, is a type of Christ in the Bible. But amazingly the sons of Moses are types too. They seem to represent the Jews, while Jethro himself represents the Gentiles. Within this beautiful Old Testament picture, we see the wife of Moses, Zipporah, who represents the Gentile Bride. Yes, all these peoples and groups will enjoy the coming Millennial kingdom blessings, as they yield themselves to the same God and Messiah, Jesus Christ! To God be the glory, great things He has done!