We Rejoice because of God's Work

Scripture: Exodus 18:9-10

Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 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.

Insights:  Remember from last week that verse eight is Moses’ witnessing opportunity with Jethro, his father-in-law.  Verse nine through twelve show Jethro’s response.  Douglas K. Stuart wrote in his commentary on Exodus, “Verse 9 actually says in the Hebrew: ‘Jethro was delighted for all the good things that the LORD had done for Israel.’  In other words, he was not merely ‘delighted to hear about all the good things’ but personally delighted by the facts themselves—because they answered questions he himself had about this God Yahweh who had appeared to his son-in-law and promised such great things for a certain enslaved people in Egypt.”  That word rejoice, which actually means delighted in Hebrew was translated in the Greek Old Testament, which we call The Septuagint, as astonished.  Here is the point for today: God IS actively at work in this world and He desires for you to see it and recognize it.  He worked in such wonderful ways that Jethro was delighted and astonished at all God had done which lead to his outpouring of his joy in a rejoicing manner.  God constantly works in such ways to astonish and delight His children.  My fear is that we are living lives so quickly that we fail to recognize God’s activity.  Our failure to be observant, however, does not negate God’s wonderful work.  Beloved, we need to open our eyes and ask God to reveal to us His work and then respond like Jethro with rejoicing. 

Questions:

1. What has God done recently in your life that has astonished you?
2. Are you actively and intentionally looking around you for the work of the Lord?

Prayer: Father, You are always at work in this world.  Open my eyes that I may recognize Your activity and give me the courage to join You in that work.  Amen.