A 31-day Lenten Devotional Series by Rev. Dave Brown
Moses' parents should be noticed as the courageous ones who brought him to life, and nurtured him on milk and on the milk of the Word of God. When they were forced to expose Moses to the outside world, they devised a creative plan that ended him in Pharaoh’s court. Moses had a sister and brother. They contributed to his survival and his calling at significant moments in his life. When Moses fled from Egypt, he married into a Midianite family that included a father and seven daughters. One of those daughter’s became his wife, and from their relationship, two sons were born.
When God met Moses at the burning bush at Mt. Horeb, he gave Moses the assignment to rescue the people of Israel. They were his firstborn, the family he had called into being, the ones through whom he planned to bless the entire world. As an incentive to obey, God promised that Moses “would return to that very place and serve God on this mountain.” Moses finally agreed to engage in this rescue plan, said a respectful goodbye to his father-in-law and took his wife and boys with him. On the way his wife made sure that their firstborn son was included in the covenant family of God by circumcising him.
Nothing more is said of Moses’ wife and family until the people of Israel arrived back at Mt. Horeb in fulfillment of God’s promise. But now, Moses was close enough to his Midianite home, that it was time to have a family reunion. Moses sent his wife and children to their father’s nearby home to visit him and to invite him to meet them at the mountain. Soon they were all together.
What went on at the family reunion? First there was a warm welcome accompanied by testimonies to the LORD’s salvation of his people. That led to a declaration of faith in the LORD made by Jethro; and finally, Jethro gave wise advice which Moses implemented.
Reflections: This story has many applications for us, for we are all people in families that are moving and changing within the framework of a God-ordained form. Here are three questions to answer.
Are you willing to arrange a family reunion? Edith Shaeffer says, “family reunions … are not a luxury that takes too much time and effort and money, but a definite necessity on someone’s part if the mobile is to be beautiful and not lopsided and broken.” (Schaeffer:26) Take the time and travel to make it happen.
Will you arrange time in the reunion to share the story of the saving work of God in each family member’s life? When Jethro heard these powerful gospel stories, he professed his faith in the LORD and brought a burnt offering to God. Philip Ryken outlines the parts of the gospel story. We were in bondage, but God redeemed us by his mighty outstretched hand. Since then, God has delivered us from all the hardships we have faced in the wilderness journey to this very day. Allot plenty of time for this event!
Will you allow a family member to speak into your life a word of wisdom which you need to hear? Consider Edith Shaeffer’s final thoughts: “There are no beautiful mobiles … which have never been in danger of being broken.” “People throw away what they could have, by insisting on perfection which they cannot have and looking for it where they will never find it.” (Schaeffer:32). Keep this most versatile mobile moving within the framework of this form.