We are going to camp out in Exodus 18 for the next few days because there is so much to learn from this chapter in the Bible. God has used it in my life recently and the things He has taught me are so timely for this time of year. For today, I want us to turn our attention to verses 1-12.
1 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. 2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have become an alien in a foreign land"; 4 and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh." 5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and
kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told
his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the
Egyptians for Israel's sake and about all the hardships they had met along the
way and how the LORD had saved them. 9 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. 10 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.
Family relationships can often be hard. As a matter of fact, some people truly dread the holidays because of having to be around difficult family members. There is so much we can learn from this passage about family.
First of all, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, sets the tone for this story. Moses' wife and sons had been under his care and he is bringing them back to Moses. Jethro could have sent them with messengers, but we see that he truly cared about Moses. He wanted to see and hear all that God was doing through Moses for himself. Jethro was a great man among his people. Moses had become a great man, but Jethro still had so much respect for him that he sent messengers ahead to let Moses know he was on his way with his family. We then see Moses going out to meet his father-in-law. He bows and kisses him which are other signs of respect. Moses was the leader of a nation of over 2 million people, yet he humbled himself in respect of his father-in-law. All relationships can be improved by mutual respect.
Next, the two great men talk face to face in Moses' tent. I can imagine that Moses' could not wait to tell Jethro all that had happened since they had last seen each other! I would love to know what all Moses included in the "everything" that he told Jethro. These men were sharing their lives with each other, not just the struggles, but also the joys. Jethro's response was truly amazing! He praised God for all that he had heard and makes a statement that I cannot pass over: "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods..."
Theologians have debated about whether or not Jethro was a Believer in the Living God. He was a priest of Midian, but that does not necessarily mean he was a Believer. The word "priest" can also mean that he was the head or patriarch of a clan. However, he was a Midianite. Midianites were descendants of Abraham from his second wife. It is likely that Jethro had a knowledge of God from his ancestors. Either way, he now proclaims his belief in God from hearing what God has done for the Israelites.
If you have family members that are not Believers, I hope you will allow this story to bring you great comfort. We can show our family the wonderful things about God without being confrontational. Moses started the day by showing respect for his father-in-law and ended it by sharing a meal with him in the very presence of God. How I pray our holidays could be this blessed. Begin praying this week for opportunities to show your family that you love and respect them. Look for ways to share what God is doing in your life. Then allow the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. We could spend our holidays celebrating in the very presence of God.
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