Day 1145: They broke bread - Exodus 18 vs 1 - 12

1-4 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”).

5-6 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,” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.

9-11 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. Exodus 18:1-12 English Standard Version

Jethro was the priest of Midian. We first met him in Chapter 2 where we saw he was also known as Reuel, which meant 'friend of God'. The Midianites were descendants of a woman named Keturah, whom Abraham took as wife after Sarah died. It seems that in years long ago some men could be a priest in their own household. For example, a man named Job had sons who “would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them.” For he thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job 1:4-5.

Moses had found refuge with Jethro after fleeing from Pharaoh and had married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro. After his encounter with God at the 'burning bush', Moses had asked to go back to Egypt to tell the children of Israel of God's plans to rescue them. He had set off with Zipporah and their two sons. The names of his children reflected Moses situation at that time. He had ‘lived in a foreign land’ after God ‘had saved him from Pharaoh’. While Zipporah had initially left with Moses, it seems he'd later sent her back to Jethro for safety. Now Jethro, who had heard of all God had done, came to Moses, and brought his wife and sons to him.

We're given a lovely description of the custom of those days, and the respect a son-in-law should show to his father-in-law. (vs 7) What a conversation they must have had as Moses told Jethro of everything God had done on their journey thus far. (vs 8) How did Jethro respond to what Moses told him about God's dealings with them? (vs 9-11)

He was deeply moved and greatly impressed by the God of Israel. We read that he “rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.” We don't what Jethro's relationship with God had been like before. Did he have a clear idea of just how wonderful God is? But now he knew for certain that the God of his ancestor Abraham was greater than all other gods, for the gods of the nations are idols. That was a big reason for what the Exodus was all about. And so he offered up a sacrifice to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to 'eat bread' with Moses’ father-in-law before God. What wonderful communion that must have been.