The Witness

DEVOTION

EXODUS

THE WITNESS

Ex 18:1-12

18:1 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.

NIV

Although we take the Word of God very straight forward, there is sometimes the translators make a choice in words that may or may not actually reflect a multiple meaning of the original word used. Here, as example the word translated as father-in-law is also used as son-in-law or mother-in law. The word “Chathan” is consider as “to make oneself a daughters husband, or son-in-law. It is not known why the translator choose to use father-in-law as Jethro was most likely the son of Reuel the father of this Zipporah as it was told us back in chapter two. Reuel and Jethro are not the same person therefor we will consider Jethro as the son of Reuel, the successor of Reuel as the priest of Midian. Nevertheless, as this is not our lesson, we needed to at least reset the stage of this event. When Jethro brings Moses family to him in the desert, they certainly embrace as family members. As was the custom in those days even among the men, a kiss was used in the greeting. This kiss was most likely on both cheeks as we see still done today in some cultures. Nevertheless as family they were greeted with respect and affection. We may not be able to say that about all families in the bible, and we certainly cannot say that about some families in the present age. Jesus does speak to about that issue, that the scriptures, the truth of God will cause family conflict.

Mark 13:12-13

12 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

NIV

He was talking about the conflict of the world against the believer. Families will be torn apart because of the faith of one and the hatred for God of another. But here Moses, knowing Jethro being the priest of Midian serves other gods, rather than God almighty, still greets him with a kiss. They enter the tent and there Moses witnesses to Jethro all that God did for him and the children of Israel, rescuing them, saving them from the hands of Pharaoh. The result of this witness was that Jethro became a believer in God Almighty, stating that he now knows God is greater than any of his gods, in so many words. We do not know if he had forsaken his gods or just added God as one of his list of gods. However we know he offered a sacrifice to God in the presence of the elders. This in a sense would indicate his public profession of faith in God. What we learn here is that although Jesus said some families would see conflict because of the gospel, which does not relieve us from telling our family members all that God has done for us. It also does not relieve us from greeting our family members with a kiss, being a sign of respect, even if they are professed unbelievers or serve others gods. As in the case of Jethro, it is possible they will acknowledge God because of all he has done for us, in us and through us. But we have to have a respectful enough relationship with them in order to sit in our tent and talk. There is no question Moses was an effective witness. That is all we can be a witness, telling what we have seen, heard and experienced.