Jethro Visits Moses
September 18, 2021
Commentary
Moses had left his family with his father-in-law Jethro, who was the priest of Midian, when he returned to Egypt. Now they all joined Moses in the wilderness (vv. 1-5). Jethro apparently had followed the happenings of his son-in-law, with great interest and when the Israelites camped at Rephidim, near Mt. Sinai he determined to see him. Jethro sent word to Moses that he was coming with his wife Zipporah and two sons Gershom and Eliezer (v. 6).
Moses was glad to be reunited with his wife and children and to see his father-in-law. This meeting was marked with a gesture of respect (bowed down) and gratitude (kissed) as they greeted each other (v. 7). Even though Jethro had probably already heard of God’s wonders performed in Egypt, Moses rehearsed some of these exciting events (v. 8). Delighted with this wonderful news, Jethro responded, “Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Egyptians” (vv. 9-11). Jethro gave a bunt offering to God while Aaron with all the elders of Israel came (v. 12).
The scene is one of jubilant praise and fellowship, but Jethro’s true spiritual condition is not explicitly stated. He returned to Midian either as a convert to the true God or perhaps continuing as a priest for the idolatrous Midianites. Regardless, it is Jethro’s acknowledgment of the God of Moses.
Application
I am thankful that when I acknowledged Christ as my Lord He saved me and forgave me of all my sins. He now wants me to help others do the same.
Exodus 18:1– 12 (NET)
1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Mosesâ father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Jethro, Mosesâ father-in-law, took Mosesâ wife Zipporah after he had sent her back, 3 and her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (for Moses had said, âI have been a foreigner in a foreign landâ) 4 and the other Eliezer (for Moses had said, âThe God of my father has been my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaohâ).
5 Jethro, Mosesâ father-in-law, together with Mosesâ sons and his wife, came to Moses in the wilderness where he was camping by the mountain of God. 6 He said to Moses, âI, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons with her.â 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him; they each asked about the otherâs welfare, and then they went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israelâs sake, and all the hardship that had come on them along the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.
9 Jethro rejoiced because of all the good that the Lord had done for Israel, whom he had delivered from the hand of Egypt. 10 Jethro said, âBlessed be the Lord who has delivered you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from the Egyptiansâ control! 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly against them he has destroyed them.â 12 Then Jethro, Mosesâ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat food with the father-in-law of Moses before God.
Illustration: Remembering The Attack on Pearl Harbor
On the recent anniversary of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan’s foreign minister, Michio Watanabe, asked the Washington Post for an opportunity to say something: ââŹĹThis is the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and we feel a deep remorse about the unbearable suffering and sorrow Japan inflicted on the American people and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific during the Pacific war, a war that Japan started with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan waged war against the United States because of the reckless decision of our military….We can’t get over our deep sorrow.” That statement was as close as the Japanese government would come to apologizing for Pearl Harbor. Plans for the Japanese Parliament to apologize collapsed after President George Bush said he saw no reason for America to apologize for Hiroshima. (U.S. News and World Report).