Exodus 18:6 Study Bible: And one said to Moses, "Look, Jethro, your father-in-law, has come to you, with your wife and her two sons with her."

◄ Exodus 18:6 ►

He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."

He sent word to Moses
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, initiates communication, highlighting the importance of family ties and respect for elders. This reflects the cultural norms of the time, where family hierarchy and communication were vital. The act of sending word indicates a formal approach, respecting Moses' leadership role among the Israelites.

I, your father-in-law Jethro
Jethro is identified as Moses' father-in-law, emphasizing the familial relationship. Jethro, also known as Reuel, is a priest of Midian, suggesting a position of spiritual and social authority. His role as a priest indicates a connection to the broader religious landscape of the region, which included various Semitic tribes with diverse beliefs.

am coming to you
Jethro's journey to meet Moses signifies a deliberate and purposeful action. This visit is not merely a family reunion but carries significant implications for Moses' leadership and the integration of his family into the Israelite community. The act of coming to Moses also symbolizes support and possibly guidance, as Jethro later provides counsel on leadership.

with your wife and her two sons
Moses' wife, Zipporah, and their sons, Gershom and Eliezer, are mentioned, highlighting the importance of family unity. This reunion suggests a restoration of family relationships, as they had been separated during Moses' mission in Egypt. The mention of his sons also connects to the broader biblical theme of generational legacy and covenant promises, as seen in the patriarchal narratives.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The central figure in the Book of Exodus, chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. At this point, he is leading the Israelites in the wilderness.

2. Jethro
Moses' father-in-law, also known as Reuel, a priest of Midian. He plays a significant role in advising Moses on leadership and governance.

3. Zipporah
Moses' wife, who had been sent back to her father Jethro during the tumultuous events in Egypt.

4. Gershom and Eliezer
The two sons of Moses and Zipporah. Their names reflect Moses' experiences and relationship with God.

5. Midian
The region where Jethro lived and where Moses had fled after leaving Egypt. It is a place of refuge and transformation for Moses.

Teaching Points

The Importance of Family Support
Moses' reunion with his family underscores the importance of familial relationships and support in fulfilling God's calling. Family can be a source of strength and encouragement in ministry.

Godly Counsel and Wisdom
Jethro's visit is not just a family reunion but also a precursor to his wise counsel to Moses. This highlights the value of seeking and heeding godly advice from trusted mentors.

Balancing Ministry and Family
Moses' life illustrates the challenge of balancing leadership responsibilities with family commitments. This balance is crucial for effective ministry and personal well-being.

The Role of In-Laws in God's Plan
Jethro's involvement in Moses' life shows that in-laws can play a significant role in God's plan, offering support, wisdom, and guidance.

Reconciliation and Restoration
The reunion of Moses with his family after a period of separation can symbolize reconciliation and the restoration of relationships, which is a recurring theme in Scripture.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the reunion of Moses with his family in Exodus 18:6 reflect the importance of family in our own spiritual journeys?

2. In what ways can we seek and apply godly counsel in our lives, as Moses did with Jethro's advice later in this chapter?

3. How can we balance our responsibilities to our family and our calling or ministry, as seen in Moses' life?

4. What role do extended family members, such as in-laws, play in our spiritual growth and journey, based on the relationship between Moses and Jethro?

5. How can the theme of reconciliation and restoration in Moses' reunion with his family inspire us to mend broken relationships in our own lives?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 2:18-21
This passage provides background on Moses' initial encounter with Jethro and his marriage to Zipporah.

Exodus 4:18-20
Describes Moses' return to Egypt with his family, highlighting the importance of family in his mission.

Numbers 10:29-32
Jethro's influence extends beyond Exodus, as he is invited to join the Israelites on their journey, showing the ongoing relationship between him and Moses.

Sermons

Ashamed of Parents	J. Carstairs.	Exodus 18:1-6
Character not Deteriorated by Honour	W. M. Taylor, D. D.	Exodus 18:1-6
Family Gatherings	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Exodus 18:1-6
Jethro's Visit - Moses in His Domestic Relations	D. Young	Exodus 18:1-12
The Consolations of Those Who Suffer Loss for the Kingdom of God	J. Urquhart	Exodus 18:1-12
The Visit of Jethro	J. Orr	Exodus 18:1-13
Friendship in its Loftiest Form	H.T. Robjohns	Exodus 18:6-12

People

Aaron, Egyptians, Eliezer, Gershom, Jethro, Moses, Pharaoh, Zipporah

Places

Egypt, Midian, Rephidim

Topics

Father-in-law, Jethro, Law, Sons, Wife

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Exodus 18:3-4

5044 names, giving of

Library

The Ideal Statesman [Footnote: Preached on Occasion of Mr. Gladstone's Death. ]
'Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them.'--EXODUS xviii. 21. You will have anticipated my purpose in selecting this text. I should be doing violence to your feelings and mine if I made no reference to the event which has united the Empire and the world in one sentiment. The great tree has fallen, and the crash has for the moment silenced all the sounds of the forest. Wars abroad and controversies at home are …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Gershom and Eliezer
'The name of the one [of Moses' sons] was Gershom ... and the name of the other was Eliezer....'--EXODUS xviii. 3, 4. In old times parents often used to give expression to their hopes or their emotions in the names of their children. Very clearly that was the case in Moses' naming of his two sons, who seem to have been the whole of his family. The significance of each name is appended to it in the text. The explanation of the first is, 'For he said, I have been an alien in a strange land'; and that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Origin and Growth of Law.
MOSES' WORK AS JUDGE AND PROPHET.--Ex. 18; 1-27; 33:5-11. Parallel References. Hist. Bible I, 198-203. Prin. of Politics, Ch. VI. Maine, Ancient Law. Jehovah spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend--Ex. 33: 11. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard cases they brought unto Moses, but every small …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

That the Ruler Relax not his Care for the Things that are Within in his Occupation among the Things that are Without, nor Neglect to Provide
The ruler should not relax his care for the things that are within in his occupation among the things that are without, nor neglect to provide for the things that are without in his solicitude for the things that are within; lest either, given up to the things that are without, he fall away from his inmost concerns, or, occupied only with the things that are within bestow not on his neighbours outside himself what he owes them. For it is often the case that some, as if forgetting that they have …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel T here is a species of the sublime in writing, which seems peculiar to the Scripture, and of which, properly, no subjects but those of divine revelation are capable, With us, things inconsiderable in themselves are elevated by splendid images, which give them an apparent importance beyond what they can justly claim. Thus the poet, when describing a battle among bees, by a judicious selection of epithets …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Easter Tuesday
Second Sermon. Same Text. Acts 13, 26-39. THE WORD AND THE RESURRECTION.[1] [Footnote 1: This sermon appeared first in the Church Postil, the Explanation of the Epistle and Gospel Texts from Easter to Advent. Printed by Hans Lufft, Wittenberg, 1559.] 1. This sermon was preached by Paul in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, where were gathered with the Jews some Greek converts. Wherever in a city Jews were to be found, there also were their synagogues in which they taught and preached; and many …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

After the Scripture.
"In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God created He him."--Gen. v. 1. In the preceding pages we have shown that the translation, "in Our image," actually means, "after Our image." To make anything in an image is no language; it is unthinkable, logically untrue. We now proceed to show how it should be translated, and give our reason for it. We begin with citing some passages from the Old Testament in which occurs the preposition "B" which, in Gen. i. 27, stands before image, where …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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