Jethro, continued:

Other possible encounters

  • Numbers 10:29 – Hobab
    • Same as Jethro?
    • Judges 4:11 – same Hobab? Same lineage?
  • We know some of his family went with Israel
    • Settled in the promised land
    • Used by God to liberate Israel from oppression
    • Judges 4 – Jael versus Sisera

Jethro’s legacy

  • We can learn from his character
    • Hospitable
    • Polite and gracious
    • Constructive criticism
    • Willing to trust
    • Willing to release Moses
    • Wise use of resources
      • Daughters as shepherds
      • Wise counsel on delegation
      • Selectivity of those right for the task
      • Making God the final authority

Prayer

  • Difficult to put into one lesson – why?
  • How much is it mentioned?
    • 334 times
    • Believe (all its forms) – 328 times
    • Obey (all its forms) – 222 times
    • Repentance – 74 times
  • Who prayed?

Prayer is a requirement

  • Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6) – pray:
    • To praise God (Matthew 6:9)
    • For God’s will to be done (Matthew 6:10)
    • For physical provision (Matthew 6:11)
    • For forgiveness – both giving and receiving (Matthew 6:12)
    • For deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:13)
  • Also pray:
    • For our leaders – spiritual and political (Hebrews 13:17; I Timothy 2:1, 2)
    • To live a peaceful life (I Timothy 2:2)
    • For gospel preachers (II Thessalonians 3:1, 2)
    • To open opportunities for the gospel (Colossians 4:3)
    • For other Christians and for the church (John 17:17-21)
    • For the sick (James 5:14-15)
    • For sinning brethren (I John 5:16)
    • In thanksgiving (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Some remarkable prayers in scripture

  • Luke 18:13 – short but effective
  • Numbers 6:24-26 – scripted by God
  • II Kings 20:3 – Asks God to remember his thoughts and deeds
  • I Kings 8:23-53 – long, but thoughtful and to the point
  • Jonah 2:1-10 – prayer with immediate results
  • Daniel 9:4-19 – begging forgiveness for his nation
  • I King 18:36-37 – calls God to open people’s eyes
  • I Kings 3:5-10 – asks God’s help to lead

Who prayed?

  • Men everywhere – I Timothy 2:8
  • Women gathered by a river – Acts 16:13
  • Epaphras – Colossians 4:2
  • Jabez – I Chronicles 4:9-10
  • The tax collector – Luke 18:10-14
  • Hannah – I Samuel 1:10-11; 2:1-10
  • Jesus – 25 accounts in the gospels

Subject of this series

  • The little-known or lesser known
  • Does prayer fit this description for you?