Well, let us turn in the Word
of God to that chapter that we read, is Exodus chapter 18. The
scripture I would bring before you this morning is found in
the 11th verse. Exodus chapter 18, verse 11. Now I know that the Lord is greater
than all gods, for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he
was above them. Now I know that the Lord is greater
than all gods, For in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he
was above them." Now here in Exodus 18 we have the account
of Jethro going to meet Moses in the wilderness after the Lord
had delivered the children of Israel from the Egyptians. And
after he had delivered them from that hunger and thirst in the
wilderness, and how he had delivered them from the Amalekites, We're
first introduced to Jethro in chapter 2 of the Book of Exodus,
where he is called Reuel. He was the priest of Midian,
and he had seven daughters, one of whom, Zipporah, he gave to
Moses to wife. Now Moses and Zipporah had two
sons, Gershom and Eliezer, And it appears that Moses had sent
his wife and his two sons back to his father-in-law before the
exodus from Egypt. And so we read in verses 2 and
3, and then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after
he had sent her back, and her two sons, and so on. Jethro had
heard of all that the Lord God had done for Moses and for Israel,
his people and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt
and so he comes to Moses in the wilderness where he is encamped
at the Mount of God In verse 6 we read, and he said unto Moses,
now this would be by messenger, either one of his own or one
of the children of Israel who intercepted him when they saw
him coming. And he said unto Moses, I thy father-in-law Jethro
am come unto thee, and thy wife and her two sons with her. And
so we read in verse 7, And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law,
and did obeisance, and kissed him, and they asked each other
of their welfare, and they came into the tent. Now see how the
great man Moses honors his father-in-law. He went out to meet him. He didn't
wait for him to be brought to his tent. sitting there like
some royal king? No. He went out to meet him and
did obeisance and kissed him. He obeyed the commandment even
before it was given. Honor thy father and thy mother. And so we too are to render therefore
to all their dues. Tribute to whom? Tribute Custom,
to whom custom. Fear, to whom fear. Honour, to
whom honour. I like Matthew Henry's comment
here. He says, Religion does not destroy good manners. They
ask each other of their welfare. Even the kind how-do-do's that
pass between them are taken notice of. Yes, there is surely here
a good example, is there not, of how Christians ought to behave
one towards another. The way these two men behave
towards each other is surely an example of how we should behave
towards one another. As the apostle exhorts us, be
kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour
preferring one another. Well then we read of how Moses
told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh
and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that
had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.
No doubt he told them of how Aaron had cast down his rod before
Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent, of how
the magicians of Egypt did the same by their sorcery. Ah, but
Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. No doubt he told him of
all the signs and wonders, of all the plagues, in the land
of Egypt and how the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and put a difference between
the Egyptians and Israel. No doubt he told him of the Passover
lamb and of how the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt. from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne,
unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and
all the firstborn of cattle." And no doubt he told him of the
spoiling of the Egyptians, and how the Egyptians had pursued
them. And no doubt he told him of the pillar of the cloud by
day, and the pillar of fire by night, and how they passed through
the Red Sea, as by dry land, which the Egyptians are saying
to do, were drowned. Then there was the miraculous
supply of manna, and the miraculous supply of water from the rock.
No doubt he told him of how Amalek came and fought with Israel in
Rephidim, and of the victory that the Lord had granted to
them. And that altar that Moses built,
Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord, my banner, all these things I'm sure Moses
would have related to his father-in-law and Moses told his father-in-law
all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians
for Israel's sake and all the trouble that had come upon them
by the way and how the Lord delivered them what a wonderful topic of
conversation all that this were a more frequent topic of conversation
in our tents O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness,
and for His wonderful works to the children of men. It's a recurring
theme throughout Psalm 107, isn't it? In Psalm 105 we are exalted,
O give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known
His deeds among the people, sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him,
talk ye of all His wonderful works. In Psalm 145 it's written,
All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall
bless thee. They shall speak of the glory
of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power, to make known to the sons
of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
This is a mark of the saints of God. This is a mark of the
saints of the Most High. They shall speak of the glory
of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. and see how Joshua rejoices
when he hears these things. Verse 9, and Jethro rejoiced
when he heard these things. Verse 9, and Jethro rejoiced
for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom
he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. Though he is a Gentile, he rejoices
in the God of Israel, and he gives him the glory that is due
to his name. And Jethro said, Blessed be the
Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people
from under the hand of the Egyptians. Oh, he is one of the elect from
among the Gentiles. Though he is not of the circumcision,
he is in the covenant of grace, and as we come to our text this
morning in verse 18 I would suggest three headings simply Jethro's
knowledge first of all Jethro's knowledge and secondly Jehovah's
greatness and then thirdly the judgment of the proud now I know
that the Lord is greater than all gods for in the thing wherein
they dealt proudly he was above them So first of all let us consider
Jethro's knowledge. Now I know, he says. Now I know. Now it's clear that Jethro knew
the Lord even before this. He knew the Lord. He was a priest
just as Melchizedek before him was a priest. Melchizedek was
a Gentile and he was a priest of the Most High God we read
in Genesis 14. These were the days before the institution of
the Aaronic priesthood. In verse 12 we read of Jethro
offering sacrifices. And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law,
took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. And Aaron came and all
the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before
God. This man clearly knew God and
he worshipped God. So why does he say then, in the
words of our text, now I know that the Lord is greater than
all gods? Well this is surely the language
of assurance. Now I know. Now I know. He knew before that the Lord
is greater than all gods. Oh, but now he sees it more clearly. He has seen clear proofs and
evidences of it. Remember the widow of Zarephath,
when Elijah restored her son to life. In 1 Kings 17, the last
verse we read, And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I
know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord
in thy mouth is truth. But she knew before that Elijah
was a man of God. You see what she says previously
in that chapter in verse 18. He says, And she said unto Elijah,
What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Art thou come
unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? Oh, she knew
before that he was a man of God. But now she sees it more clearly
than ever. Now by this I know that thou
art a man of God and so it is here. Jethro knew before that
the Lord is greater than all gods. Ah, but now he sees it
more clearly than he had ever seen it before. Now I know. Now on the subject of assurance
you know that the principle means whereby we may gain a full assurance
of our salvation and of our interest in the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus is from the Word of God. John in his first epistle
says, these things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal
life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. these things are written, this
is the principal means of our gain of full assurance of salvation
through the things that are written in the word of God in the first chapter of that
first epistle of his John says and these things write we unto
you that your joy may be full that your joy may be full now
when is a believer's joyful Surely it's when he has a full assurance
of faith. Blessed assurance. Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste
of glory divine. It's expressed in the Song of
Solomons. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. It's when
we're taken up with our beloved as he's revealed to us in the
Word of God that we become full of joy. whom having not seen
ye love, in whom though now ye see him not yet believing, ye
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The written
word of God is a means of increasing our joy and our faith. Again
John says, but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have
life through his name. the principal means of obtaining
a full assurance of faith is by the word of God but you know
another means is by observing the special signal providences
of God there are those signal providences that are recorded
in the scripture of truth and many other signs truly did Jesus
in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this
book but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is
the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have
life through his name. Yes, these signs, these wonderful
works of God, these are recorded. That ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have
life through his name. Paul says, for whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. again hope always
accompanies faith and assurance too in Hebrews we read of the
full assurance of hope a full assurance of hope and this is
obtained by observing God's works of providence as they are recorded
in the holy scriptures but more than that not only God's works
of providence as they are recorded in the holy scriptures but also
God's works of providence in history and his dealings with
nations The Lord is known by the judgment which he executed,
says the psalmist. And moreover, assurance may be
gained by observing the special signal providence of God in our
own lives. We mentioned before Psalm 107,
which has that remarkable refrain running through it. Oh that men
would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful
works to the children of men. Well that psalm is all about
providence and God's dealings with men, His wonderful works
to the children of men. And at the end of that psalm,
it says, Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they
shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord you see to observe
these things, these signal providences will prove a means of obtaining
an assurance, even a personal understanding of the loving kindness
of the Lord the wicked will not observe these things the wicked
will not observe these things they desire no assurance because
they have no faith and so it is written of them in another
psalm Psalm 28 because they regard not the works of the Lord nor
the operation of his hands he shall destroy them and not build
them up of course I should also mention
that divine chastisements too are a means of our obtaining
assurance doesn't Paul say in Hebrews for whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth maybe some
of you have known something of divine chastisement it's a mark of love when he applies
the rod, didn't you know why the rod has been applied It's because he loves you that
he applies the rod. He will not let you live like
a bastard. Well, Jethro sought to increase
his knowledge, which is why he came to Moses. And by increasing
his knowledge, he increased his faith. Now I know, he said. Well, under the gospel, of course,
we don't go to Moses. We go to the Lord Jesus Christ,
just as the disciples did in the gospel. In Luke 17, we read, and the apostles said
unto the Lord, increase our faith, increase our faith. Or would
we know an increase of faith, would we have that full assurance
of faith? Then let us go to Jesus and ask him. Lord increase our faith as he
reveals himself to us and as he reveals his offices to us,
prophet, priest and king, as he reveals to us something of
his perfect finished work, that work of redemption of which the
deliverance in Egypt was a type. Oh then, then we shall be able
to say with more understanding than even Jethro had, now I know
Now I know. I'm reminded of the Samaritans
who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ when they heard the testimony
of the woman at the well. In John chapter 4 verse 39 we
read of them. And many of the Samaritans of
that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which
testified, he told me all that ever I did. Or we read a little
later that the Samaritans said to the woman, now we believe.
not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves,
and know, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour
of the world. Oh, that each one of us here
might be enabled to say, now I know, now I know, It can only be by the Spirit's
revelation of the Son of God in the soul of a sinner. Now
I know the Lord then blessed his truth to us each one today.
Now in the second place we see Jehovah's greatness. Now I know
that the Lord is greater than all gods. Now I know that the
Lord is greater than all gods. Well first of all under this
heading what are these gods? Well there, there are those false
gods, those counterfeit deities, idols. This is what Paul is referring
to when he says in 1 Corinthians, we know that an idol is nothing
in the world, and that there is none other god but one. For
though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in
earth, as there be gods many and lords many, but to us there
is but one God. the Father of whom are all things,
and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things,
and we by Him." The worship of idols is expressly forbidden
by the true and the living God. I can't understand why anyone
would think that the Roman Catholic Church is a Christian church.
It is an idolatrous institution. It is anti-Christ. And God spake
all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which hath
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods
before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them. For
I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God. In 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Chronicles
16, David says, for great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above
all gods, for the gods of the people are idols. But the Lord
made the heavens. All the gods of the people, all
the nations, are made by men. but the Lord the God of Israel
he is that one that has made all things Jeremiah says but
the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting
King and his wrath the earth shall tremble and the nations
shall not be able to abide his indignation Thus shall he say
unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the
earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under
these heavens. He hath made the earth by His
power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath
stretched out the heavens by His discretion. When He uttereth
His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and
He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth. He
maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out
of His treasures. Every man is brutish in his knowledge.
Every founder is confounded by the graven image, for his molten
image is falsehood. and there is no breath in them.
They are vanity and the work of errors. In the time of their
visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like
them, for he is the former of all things, and Israel is the
rod of his inheritance. The Lord of hosts is his name. So Jethro says here, Now I know
that the Lord is greater than all gods, the gods of the Egyptians,
What could they do? They couldn't deliver the Egyptians,
though the Egyptians trusted in them. They are vanity, the work of
errors. In the time of their visitation they shall perish,
and so they did. On the night of the Passover,
we read in Exodus 12, For I will pass through the land of Egypt
this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of
Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt
I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. But you know the word gods in
the scriptures can also refer to kings and princes and judges,
civil rulers and magistrates. and in this sense the word is
used in chapter 22 of Exodus verse 28 thou shalt not revile
the gods nor curse the ruler of thy people also in Psalm 82 God standeth in the congregation
of the mighty he judgeth among the gods how long will he judge
unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked And Christ quotes that, verse
6 of that psalm of course. He says, I have said, ye are
gods. He is speaking of rulers and
judges. Oh, but they were not judging
justly. And so the psalmist prays that
God himself would arise and judge. Arise, O God, judge the earth,
for thou shalt inherit all nations. He says at the end of that psalm.
Why does he pray thus? Well, because the Lord is greater
than all gods and this shall be ultimately fulfilled and ultimately
revealed at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only potentate,
the King of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality,
dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no
man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Oh, but if we have eyes
to see, As we observe the providence of God, we can see it even now
in this our day. It is the Lord who puts down
one and raises up another. For promotion cometh neither
from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, but God is
the judge. He putteth down one and setteth
up another. It is written in the Proverbs,
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice by me princes
rule and nobles even all the judges of the earth it is for this reason of course
that we are exalted in the New Testament to be subject to the
higher powers let every soul be subject unto the higher powers
for there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained
of God Well, if these powers are ordained of God, then God
must be greater than the powers that be. He is greater than all
kings and He is greater than all governors. Now I know that
the Lord is greater than all gods. And is this not clearly
shown in the Lord's dealings with Pharaoh? In chapter 15 of
Exodus we have the son of Moses. We read there in verse 4, Pharaoh's
chariots and his hosts have he cast into the sea. His chosen
captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have
covered them, they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right
hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power. Thy right hand, O Lord,
hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine
excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee.
Thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. This brings us to our third and
final heading, the judgment of the proud. The judgment of the
proud. Now I know that the Lord is greater
than all gods for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he
was above them for in the thing wherein they
dealt proudly he was above them you know there was another king
who dealt proudly and that was Nebuchadnezzar Daniel reminds
Belshazzar who is the son of Nebuchadnezzar he reminds him
of his father there in Daniel chapter 5 and verse 20 but when
his heart was lifted up and his mind was hardened in pride now
if you look at the margin it says but when his heart was lifted
up and his mind hardened to deal proudly He was deposed from his
kingly throne. Or again, as the margin says,
he was made to come down from his kingly throne and they took
his glory from him. Now wherein did Nebuchadnezzar
deal proudly? Well, we read in Daniel 4 verse
30, the king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon that
I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my
power and for the honor of my majesty? Oh, you can almost feel
the pride oozing from every pore of this proud monarch. Is not this great Babylon that
I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my
power and for the honour of my majesty? What pride! What pride! And what of Pharaoh? Wherein did Pharaoh deal proudly? Well, we read in chapter 5 of
Exodus, verse 2, And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I
should obey his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the LORD,
neither will I let Israel go. This is the language of proud
and haughty sinners, is it not? Who is the Lord that I should
obey his voice? And you know, that is the natural
language of all of us by nature. Pride came in with the very first
temptation and with the very first sin. And ye shall be as
gods, the devil said, and ye shall be as gods. But notice
the words of our text. Now I know that the Lord is greater
than all gods. For in the thing wherein they
dealt proudly he was above them. We read of Nebuchadnezzar that
his mind was hardened in pride or that his mind was hardened
to deal proudly we also read of pharaoh's heart being hardened
don't we in exodus 4 verse 21 and the lord said unto moses
when thou goest sorry, Exodus 4 verse 21, and
the Lord said unto Moses, when thou goest to return into Egypt,
see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have
put in thine hand, but I will harden his heart. Now mark those
words, but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let
the people go. It's after this in the next chapter
that we read, and Pharaoh said, who is the Lord that I should
obey his voice and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither
will I let Israel go. His heart was being hardened
in pride. And it was the Lord who hardened
his heart. I will harden his heart, he says.
And the Lord informs Pharaoh of that very fact by his servant
Moses in chapter 9 and verse 16. And in very deed for this
cause have I raised thee up for to show in thee my power and
that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. Now Paul takes that scripture
and he uses it as a proof of the absolute sovereignty of God
in salvation. Romans chapter 9 and verse 16 so then it is not of him that
willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that showeth mercy.
For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose
have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that
my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath
he mercy, on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."
Whom he will he hardeneth. Now mark those words. Pharaoh
was hardened in his pride to his own destruction, and even
now, at the present time, there are sinners being hardened in
their pride to their utter and eternal ruin. The wicked, through
the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God. God
is not in all his thoughts. What is their end? Well, the
scripture is quite clear, and we see this principle throughout
the scriptures. Pride goeth before destruction,
and an haughty spirit before a fall. What a solemn word that
is in Proverbs. Proverbs 16 verse 14, sorry,
verse 4. The Lord hath made all things
for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Everyone
that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord, though
hand in hand he shall not be unpunished. Where there is sovereign grace,
where there is divine grace, where there is salvation, there
will be a softening of the heart. And where there is a softening
of the heart, there will be humility, and there will be shame on account
of one's sins. And there will be a seeking after
the God of salvation. It is in fact a new heart. A
new heart also will I give you. and a new spirit will I put within
you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you a heart of flesh." Oh, what a mercy this
is! It is all of mercy, you see.
Salvation is of the absolute mercy of God. It is to be attributed
to His mercy alone. Therefore hath He mercy on whom
He will have mercy. and whom he will, he hearteneth. Mercy softens our hearts, it
gives us new hearts, it gives us hearts to seek after God,
to call upon the name of the Lord, to call upon Him while
He may be found. And where is it that we meet
with God? Where do we meet with God? Well, we meet with God in
the person of His only begotten Son, for there is one God and
one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. How
is it that sinners are reconciled to God? Are we not made obnoxious
to God by our sins? Paul says that when we were enemies
we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. By the
death of His Son it is there at the cross that hearts are
softened. that softens and melts our hearts.
Nothing but thy blood, O Jesus, can relieve us from our smart,
nothing else from guilt release us, nothing else can melt the
heart. Law and terrors do but harden all the while they work
alone, but a sense of blood-bought pardon soon dissolves a heart
of stone. He's there at the cross that
we gain that sure and certain knowledge. Now I know that the
Lord is greater than all gods. For in the thing wherein they
dealt proudly, He was above them. You see, it was there at the
cross, it was there at the cross that the Prince of Pride himself,
the devil, the God of this world, as he's called in 2 Corinthians,
was cast out. Jesus said now is the judgment
of this world now shall the prince of this world be cast out and
I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto
me that is all men that are given to him in the eternal covenant
this he said signifying what death he should die it was through
death that the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God destroyed him
that had the power of death that is the devil The devil had put
it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, you remember, Simon's son, to
betray Christ. Ah, but this was to be the means
of the devil's own undoing. For as much then as the children
are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,
that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death,
that is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Oh, the death of
Christ was the devil's destruction and the church's deliverance. And the early church acknowledged
and confessed this truth. See the early church there at
prayer in the book of Acts. In Acts chapter 4 verse 26, the
kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together
against the Lord and against his Christ. for of a truth against
thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and
Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were
gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined
before to be done. Oh, he was above them. He was
above them. He was working out his own eternal
purpose, even the salvation of his dear elect. And as we see
by faith the risen Christ, victorious over death and victorious over
the devil and having put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Oh, can we not then say with
Jethro, now I know the Lord is greater than all gods. For in
the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them. The Lord bless his word, to your
soul and to mine. Amen.