In this passage, Moses believes what God has done and spoken, which is Good News, and shares the Good News with a family member, his father-in-law, Jethro.
First, The Circumstances Which Lead to the Family Reunion (vv. 1-7)
A. Jethro Hears (probably through caravans in the land of Midian) About What God has Done (v.1)
What God Did, not what Moses did, is the focus here. In God's providence, Jethro understands that what his son-in-law has been doing is not some entrepreneurial scheme to become tribal leader of a new tribe. He is the instrument of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is saving His people for the glory of His own Name.
B. Jethro returns the family of Moses to Mount Horeb (or Sinai) (vv. 2-5)
He returns Moses' wife, Zipporah (Jethro's daughter), Gershom (“Stranger here”; his name summarizes time in EGYPT), and Eliezer (“God is my help”; summarizes the EXODUS). The last time we saw them was in chapter 4:24-26. Eliezer hadn't been born yet. So this is his first appearance.
C. Jethro sends a messenger and Moses and Jethro meet (vv. 6-7)
The meeting is formal. Zipporah and the boys are not mentioned again here. The focus is Moses, man of God, meeting with Jethro, man of gods (priest of the gods of the Midianites). The point is that God is orchestrating this meeting so that a lost stranger to God and His covenant becomes a believer. Jethro isn't seeking God. The Covenant God whose covenant name is the LORD -- Jehovah, Yahweh – is seeking Jethro.
Second, A Believer Who Witnesses to His Family (vv. 8-9)
A. Moses told Jethro all the LORD had done. Moses' testimony is God-centered.
He told Jethro what the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt for Israel's sake.
That's s short summary, but what this means Moses tells Jethro that God had triumphed over all the gods and goddesses of Egypt in the ten plagues, that God had brought them out of Egypt by saving their firstborn from death through the blood of the Passover Lamb, and that God had brought them through the walls of water of the Red Sea on dry land, while destroying Egypt's entire department of defense as He brought the walls of water down on His people's captors & enslavers. Then, Moses, would've said, we sang – all 1.5 million of us – stood by the Red Sea as we gazed upon our enemy destroyed and we sang of God's deliverance. It would've been something like...
“Dad, Yahweh did it all! All we did was watch! He has redeemed us and destroyed the most powerful king, nation, and army in the world! And He did it all so that we might worship Him for fulfilling His promises to the Patriarchs – 1) to make a people for His name, 2) to give us a place, 3) to give us His presence, and 4) to bless the nations – the entire earth – through all people turning from idols to serve the loving God, whose name is Yahweh. In fact, in our camp right now are some Egyptians and other Gentiles who've believed and been saved with us. Dad, I proclaim Yahweh to you. The glorious God of grace who has saved this bunch of slaves for His glory's sake. The God of Israel is God alone. ”
Moses also told Jethro all their hardship and how the LORD had delivered them.
This means, Moses would have also said something like this:
“Dad, then we came to a gorgeous oasis – called Bitter (and the water tasted bitter!)– and the people complained that they wanted to go back to Egypt. When I cried out to God about what to do, He said, I am Your Healer, and the Healer of this People. Throw a tree into the water and it will be healed. Healing by the LORD through a tree, Dad! Somehow we're going to get access to a healing tree and all our diseases and sins will e healed. I don't how, but He's going to do it, Dad.
And then they got hungry. We have tons of livestock, but they didn't want to bother with dressing and cooking the livestock, so they complained again. And Yahweh gave us 8 million quail one night and then every day since He's given us bread in the morning. We call it, “What is it?” We don't know what it is! But it's bread! And He gives it to us every morning, except not on Sabbaths. He gives us double on the day before the Sabbath and it never rots on the Sabbath!
And then we came here – to the Rephidim/Horeb area beneath the great shadow of Mt Sinai – the very place, Dad, where God met with me from a burning bush 40 something years ago! And the people complained, put me and Yahweh on trial, and were about to kill me. I cried out to Yahweh and He said, “strike the Rock I'm going to go stand on. And waters will flow out. And take some of the elders to see it.” Dad, I couldn't believe it, but the LORD stood on the Rock, and just as they were about to kill me in rejection of God, I struck the Rock and water started gushing out. And they drank. They drank God's Rock water!! Yahweh has done all this, Dad.
And then, the Amalekites (your very good friends and neighbors as a Midianite) came and attacked us at the rear of our formation, where the women, children, and old people are. They started killing our people and taking their stuff. God told me to go stand on a hill and raise up my arms to heaven with the staff of His judgment. God also told me to tell Joshua to select warriors and go and fight the Amalekites. Dad, while I held my arms & the staff up, they won. When I got tired and dropped the staff, they lost. Dad, so with the help of Aaron, Hur, and a stone, I stayed there all day with God's staff in the air, and Joshua and our warriors beat the Amalekites. And then God told me, I will destroy the Amalekites through war with them in every generation. So we're going to be at war a lot, I guess. But He also said, call the name of the altar you're going to build here Jehovah Nissi – the LORD is my banner – for I'm your Banner in War, Moses. Tell the people this. I'm their banner. The battle is mine. I will be victorious over my enemies and my people's enemies.
Dad, Yahweh has done all this! He saved us and He keeps saving us, and no one can keep Him from doing it! Dad, there is no one like Yahweh and there is no salvation like His! There is no one like the LORD and His Rock, there is no one like the LORD and His Lamb. There is no one like the LORD and His Word! Dad, Yahweh is Lord of all and He has set this bunch of sinners apart (of which your family is now part), to be trophies of His glory and grace. Won't you worship Him – the Only God, a Good God, who is our Redeemer, Rescuer, Savior, and Friend –won't you worship Him with us?”
And what does Jethro say?
Third, A Pagan Priest Family Member Converted (9-12)
A. He rejoiced (9) He responds with joy. His heart is full of joy at the LORD's victory and salvation. The pagan Amalekites attacked Israel in chapter 17. The pagan Jethro rejoices. He rejoices because he believes.
B. He believed (10) He places his faith in the LORD. This is faith.
C. He repudiated false gods, for which he has spent his life in priestcraft! (v. 11) He literally says all the other gods have acted arrogantly. They should've bowed to Yahweh, but they did not and were destroyed as a result. He confesses the vanity of paganism – it's all arrogance. All should bow to the LORD. This is repentance. Faith and repentance make up true conversion.
D. He enters the communion of the saints as anyone would at this point in history (12)
As Douglas Stuart says,
“There are only three things someone would do to convert at this point in redemptive history: First, Worship YHWH according to His Word. Second, Eat a covenant meal. Third, make a sacrifice. A Burnt offering.”
All three of which Jethro does. Friends, Jethro converts from paganism to becoming a follower of the LORD. Though not a Hebrew in bloodline, he becomes a Hebrew in heart. He enters the family of God – the congregation of Israel (Old Testament church) – by faith.
Maybe you would say today – if I only had a redemption like that to tell my relatives about, I'd do it! I'd bear witness if I had that kind of testimony! Oh friend. You do. If a believer in Christ, you have the Redemption to which this little redemption pointed. The redemption Moses knows is all a type of the Great Redemption to come in Jesus Christ.
The LORD has brought the NT believer out of the slavery of sin, the world, and Satan by the Blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world – Jesus Christ. God has redeemed us from the destruction of masters that have destroyed us and our children for generations. He has brought is out of bondage through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He sent Him as Bread from Heaven into a world (of which we all are naturally members) of complainers and quarrelers. He has given us Living Water and Bread that lasts forever. And He keeps feeding us and slaking our thirst by virtue of the Rock that was struck for our sins, punished for our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:6)
His enemies and our enemies will all fall by “That Word above all Earthly Powers”, even Jesus Christ. And having been delivered, we enter into spiritual warfare by prayer. And He will feed us and lead us to the Land He's promised, the new heavens and the new earth. He is with us. He has made us His people forever. And He is bringing others into the fold. For six thousand years He's been saving sinners, multiplying pardons, and His free grace has not grown tired or weary. And He's still doing the same today.
Friend, you have the Gospel in more light and in bolder relief than Moses could have dreamed of!
We know the Tree – the healing Tree is the cross!
We know the Rock – the Rock is Christ – whom God made to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God!
We know the manna! Christ is the Bread from Heaven, give to us by His Spirit in the Word, Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and prayer.
We have drunk the Living Water! Christ is that Water. We drink by His Spirit in the Word, in the Cup of the Lord's Supper, and in prayer.
So, believers, witness to your families. Moses had nothing to lose. Jethro had everything to lose. We have nothing to lose. Our unbelieving family members have everything to lose.
Unbelievers, if you're here today and you have Christian family members. Ask them to tell you about what God has done for them in Jesus Christ. Say, “Tell me the Good news, please!”
One of my friends who became a Christian in Germany in the Air Force said to his Christian friends and family members after he was converted, “Why didn't you all tell me before? Didn't you love me?”
Do we love our family members who are lost? Do we? Let's pray.