33 JETHRO AND HOBAB'S VISIT

The visit of Jethro and probably his son Hobab seems to have occurred at this juncture in the sequence of events in Moses’ life, after the two victories at Rephidim and before the giving of the law at Sinai. Later, after the giving of the law, Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law evidently accepts Moses’ invitation to continue the journey towards Canaan with Israel. We will address that part of the story later in this lesson.

Exodus 18 records a happy reunion with Moses’ wife, sons and father-in-law, and Jethro who has come and observes the happiness of Israel, the honor of Moses, his son-in-law, and congratulates him. Now Jethro thinks himself well paid for all the kindness he had shown Moses in his distress in Midian when Moses fled from Pharaoh. He is able also to observe that his daughter is better matched than he could have expected. Jethro could not but hear the news that rang through the nations, news of the glorious appearances of God for His people Israel. Jethro comes to enquire, and learn for himself more fully as the thinking person referred to in Psalm 111:2, “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.” He was there to rejoice with them as one who had a true respect both for them and for their God. Verse 1 says, “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.” Though he, as a Midianite, was not to share with them in the promised land, yet he shared with them in the joy of their deliverance. We too may in this way make the blessings of others a source of our own happiness, by taking pleasure, as God does, in the wellbeing of the righteous.

Jethro brings Moses’s wife and children to Moses. Moses had evidently sent them back sometime after he arrived in Egypt. The plagues and demands on his time during that period would not be easy if he had also to be responsible for his own family. For their safety and possibly fearing they might prove to be a hindrance, he sent them home to his father-in-law. He possibly foresaw what discouragements he was likely to meet in the court of Pharaoh, and therefore would not keep any in his own family with him in Egypt. His mission was not unlike that of Jesus’ disciples who also from time to time had responsibilities that required them to leave their families temporarily. Matthew 19:29 says, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” However, though there might be godly and good reason to be separated from his wife and family for a time, yet they must come together again as soon as they could. Peter would teach husbands as 2 Peter 3:7 says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” Jethro, we may suppose, was glad of his daughter’s company, and fond of her children, yet he would not keep her from her husband, nor them from their father, so he took them to him even giving him advance notice that he was coming as verses 5 and 6 say, “Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God. Jethro had sent word to him, ‘I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.’”  This is as good a place as any to discuss the importance of Christian leaders being responsible family leaders. You will not find any Scripture that justifies putting public ministry ahead of family responsibilities. There are many places in Scripture that support this pro-family idea such as 1 Timothy 3: 4, 5 which say, “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” Moses must have his family with him so that while he ruled the congregation of God he might set a good example of prudence in family-government. Moses had now a great deal both of honor and care put on him, and it was fit that his wife should be with him to share with him in both.

The greeting that took place between Moses and his father-in-law was very kind as verse 7 states, “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.” Though Moses was a great prophet of the Lord yet he showed a very humble respect for his father-in-law. Godliness does not destroy good manners. The narrative that Moses gave his father-in-law of the great things God had done for Israel was convincing to Jethro. Moses was happy to bring Jethro up to date as verse 8 indicates, “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.”  This would have been one of the things Jethro came for, that is, to know more fully the details of the great reports he had heard only in general. Conversation concerning God’s wondrous works is good and profitable. These two men, two friends, in this conversation were proving the wisdom found in Psalm 105:2, “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” Some people talk about sports, politics, or a multitude of other things, but the Christian leader will delight in conversations like Moses and Jethro evidently had described in Psalm 145:10-12, “All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.” Asking questions, telling the story, relaying the news and discussing God’s works are not only allowable conversational Christian entertainment, but are capable of building people up in their faith as we take notice of God’s glorious involvements even in the details of our lives.

Their conversation evidently made a very good impression on Jethro and he congratulated God’s Israel: Jethro rejoiced as verse 9 say, “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.” He not only rejoiced in the honor given to his son-in-law, but in all the goodness done to Israel. While the Israelites were themselves murmuring about their difficulties notwithstanding all God’s goodness to them, here was a Midianite rejoicing. Can we see a something valuable here? A Midianite was delighted to hear what the Israelites experienced, but the Israelites had been grumbling and complaining during the doing of it. This was not the only time in Scripture that the faith of a Gentile shamed the unbelief of the Jews. Jesus was impressed by a similar situation in His days on earth, as Matthew 8:10 records, “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” People who stood by were more affected with the favors God had shown to Israel than those were who received them. Jethro gave the glory to Israel’s God as is clear from verse 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.’” Jethro’s faith was confirmed, and he took this opportunity to make an open profession of it as verse 11 says, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” The matter of his faith was that the God of Israel is greater than all pretenders and all false and counterfeit-deities that usurp divine honors. God silences them, subdues them, and is too hard for them all and therefore is Himself the only living and true God. He is also higher than all princes and earthly rulers, and has incontestable authority over them and an irresistible power to control and over-rule them. He manages them all as He pleases and gets honor from His dealings with them no matter how great they think they are. This conversation with Moses in the tent confirmed what he already knew; it was a confirmation and improvement of his faith. Now I know; yes, he knew it before, but now he knew it better; his faith grew up to a full assurance on receiving fresh convincing evidence. Those obstinately shut their eyes against the clearest light who do not know that the Lord is greater than all gods.

Here, then Jethro offered sacrifices to God and Aaron attended the meeting along with other elders of Israel as verse 12 says, “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 a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.” They had communion with each other in a feast and in a sacrifice, Jethro was cheerfully admitted, though a Midianite, into fellowship with Moses and the elders of Israel. He too was a son of Abraham, though not of Isaac’s linage. They joined in a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Jethro was a priest in Midian, and a worshipper of the true God. Mutual friendship is sanctified by joint-worship. It is good to worship God with people who may be different than ourselves as long as it is the true God who is being worshipped. It is a very good thing for relations and friends, when they come together, to join in prayer and praise. Jesus is the center of our unity. They joined in a feast of rejoicing, a feast combined with a sacrifice. Moses invited his relations and friends to a meal in his own tent. Jesus also accepted many such invitations. They ate a meal together and we may guess they ate what they had, manna. Jethro must see and taste that bread from heaven, and, though a Gentile, is as welcome to it as any Israelite. Non-Jews are still welcome to eat the bread of life. Can you imagine the table talk, the laughter, celebration and emotion of the event as they ate with Moses’ father-in-law?

Move forward now to the time of Israel’s departure from Sinai going towards Canaan and look with me at an event recorded in Numbers 10:29-32. It is an account of what passed between Moses and Hobab, the son of Jethro (Reuel). Jethro may have earlier left with Moses his son Hobab who stayed contentedly with Israel while they encamped at Mount Sinai, near his own country. But now that Israel was moving north toward Canaan he intended to return to his own country. In any case, Hobab was there. Moses extends an invitation to him to go forward with them to Canaan as verse 29 says, “Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, ‘We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, “I will give it to you.” Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.’” Moses tempts Hobab with a promise that they would certainly be kind to him, and puts God’s word in for security: “for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” This was as if he had said, “Come, cast in your lot among us, and you will do well as we do well; and we have the promise of God that we will fare well.” One obvious lesson here is that those who are bound for the heavenly Canaan should invite and encourage all their relatives and friends to go along with them. What argument can be more powerful to take people with us than “. . . the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” Another important lesson here for a Christian leader is to surround ourselves with skillful, knowledgable, informed and qualified people. Hobab’s inclination was to go back to his own country as verse 30 says, “He answered, ‘No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.’” But Moses wanted him with them. Moses had released Jethro, but he wanted Hobab to travel on with them for their mutual benefit. Both would have advantages. “But Moses said, ‘Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us ”” (31). Hobab knew the land. Yes, we can trust the God who leads us, but we leaders should do what we can to develop a team and surround ourselves with capable persons. Even those that are led by miracles must not overlook ordinary means. Perhaps Moses suggests this to Hobab to please Hobab with the thought of being useful to so great a body. Maybe Moses wanted to develop Hobab. Or perhaps Moses thought mostly about the benefit Hobab could be to Israel. All these are good goals. We can give only what we receive. We can do no more service and kindness to our friends than God is pleased to put in the power of our hand to do. This is all we dare promise, to do good as God will enable us. Those that share with God’s Israel in their labors and hardships will share with them in their comforts and honors. Those that are willing to take their lot with them in the wilderness will have their lot with them in Canaan. It is good leadership to gather a qualified team. And it benefits us to join the team. 2 Timothy 2:12 says, “if we endure, we will also reign with him.” And Luke 22: 28 and 29 say, “You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,”.

We do not find any reply that Hobab made; his silence gave consent. He left us a good example and his posterity benefited. Judges 1:16, says, “The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms with the people of Judah to live among the inhabitants of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad.” Even later the descendants of Moses father-in-law are still benefiting. In 1 Samuel 15:6 Saul told the Kenites, “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.”