The In-Laws Visit

Exodus 18:1-12

I lose track of how many times the relationship of Jethro to Moses, as father-in-law, is mentioned here. It is no doubt a sign of the culture out of which this comes that this relationship is mentioned far more than that of Moses to his wife.

Anyway, this is clearly to be understood as a happy occasion, this ‘catching up’ from old times, from before the exodus, when Moses was enfolded within the family of Jethro (Exodus 2:15-22).

We are not told what kind of priest Jethro was; what god he served, or whether somehow he had been led to offer sacrifice to Yahweh. What matters is that he now acknowledges the Lord who has been very much active in the life of the people. He is poised, therefore, to offer with great credibility the sound advice is about to offer his son-in-law.

Prayer:
Lord, let us accept whatever witness to truth may come along. When we allow that insight to speak, we look back, and we see you at work in ways we never perceived at the time. Improve our discernment, Lord, so that we may better en-courage one another. Through Christ. Amen.