42.q. “Wilderness” – 5. Jethro heard and is now coming

 

Exodus 18:1  Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.   Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home,  along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 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. And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,”

Do you ever wonder how Jethro heard of all that God had done? Without mail, email, phones, texting, social media, internet, TV, radio, news media, etc…. he heard of the work God had done.  How is this possible? People spoke of it. People who were amazed at how God provided an exodus out of Egypt for the Israelites. I imagine a traveler stole of it and it went something like this; “ I have just Come through Egypt.  The Israelite slaves are all gone. There are none to be found. Pharaoh and all of his chariots and men were drowned in the Red Sea. Prior to this all of the firstborn of all of the Egyptians died, and all of their livestock firstborn died too. Prior to this, there were many plagues of such wonder that only God could have done it. Now it is said that the Israelites are wandering around in the wilderness.  They say their God is with them and it is displayed by a cloud by day and fire by night. We have even heard that when they were attacked by Amalekites the Amalekites were amazingly defeated by them.”

More than one report surely came to Jethro and most assuredly he inquired of any passing through.  Let us be mindful of sharing what we have seen God do in people’s lives. How He has changed them. How He has blessed them. How He has protected them. How He has given them peace, rest, and joy. How He has healed them. How He has delivered them from addiction. We never know how God will use it but He will for His good. Some will reject what you say. However, the next time they hear something from another person it might just be the softening of their heart that leads them to repentance and eternal life.

Author: Daryl Pint

Saved by Grace, living by faith