Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17
Text: Exodus 18 : 1-7
THE SPREAD OF NEWS OF ISRAEL’S DELIVERANCE
News of Israel’s deliverance spread far and wide! Amalek heard about it and sought to defy Israel. It failed miserably in its attempt to impede its progress to Canaan!
Jethro in Midian also heard about Moses’ success in leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. With great joy he made his way to see his now famous son-in-law.
A VISIT FROM JETHRO
Moses went to Egypt on his own. His wife, Zipporah found great difficulty in accepting the rite of circumcision for their sons (Cf. Exodus 4:24-26).
“And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law,
heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel
His people- that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife,
after he had sent her back, with her two sons, of whom the name of
one was Gershom (for he said, ‘I have been a stranger in a foreign
land’) and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said,
‘The God of my father was my help, and delivered me
from the sword of Pharaoh’).”
EXODUS 18:1-4
We have a little glimpse of Moses’ faith in God in the four decades he spent in Midian. He acknowledged that God was his help in his hour of need. How he had grown in such a short while serving the Lord in Egypt!
CAREFUL PROTOCOL
Jethro, much older than Moses, slowly made his way to see Moses. One of his main goals was to return Moses’ family back to him.
“And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife
to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the
mountain of God. Now he had said to Moses, ‘I, your father-in-law
Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons
with her.'”
EXODUS 18:5-6
Jethro observed careful protocol, even though Moses was his own son-in-law! He did not take for granted his position as father-in-law to famous Moses!
Moses put on no airs with reference to his father-in-law! This was family! He must give proper respect to Jethro, no matter where he stood in terms of fame and success. Respect and honour must be given to his father-in-law. He was the one who sheltered him and gave his daughter for a wife to Moses!
“So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down,
and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being,
and they went into the tent.”
EXODUS 18:7