"So where is he?" their father asked. "Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat." So where is he?This phrase reflects a sense of urgency and curiosity. In the context of Exodus 2:20, Reuel (also known as Jethro), the priest of Midian, is inquiring about Moses, who had helped his daughters at the well. The Hebrew root for "where" is "אֵי" (ay), which often denotes a search or a quest for understanding. This question signifies the importance of hospitality and the cultural expectation to show gratitude and kindness to strangers, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament. Reuel asked his daughters Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesAt this point in the account, Moses has fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian and has arrived in Midian. He is resting by a well when he encounters the daughters of Reuel. 2. Reuel (Jethro) The priest of Midian and father of the daughters who Moses helps. He is also known as Jethro and later becomes Moses' father-in-law. 3. Daughters of Reuel They are shepherdesses who come to draw water for their father's flock. Moses assists them by driving away other shepherds who were harassing them. 4. Midian A region where Moses finds refuge after fleeing Egypt. It is significant as a place of transition and preparation for Moses. 5. The Well A common meeting place in ancient times, often a setting for significant encounters and events in biblical accounts. Teaching Points Hospitality and KindnessReuel's invitation to Moses to share a meal demonstrates the biblical value of hospitality. As Christians, we are called to extend kindness and welcome to strangers, reflecting God's love. Divine Appointments The encounter at the well was not by chance. God orchestrates meetings and events in our lives for His purposes. We should be attentive to how God might be working in our everyday interactions. Preparation for Purpose Moses' time in Midian was a period of preparation. God often uses seasons of waiting and obscurity to prepare us for future tasks. Trust in God's timing and process. Family and Community Support Reuel's acceptance of Moses into his family highlights the importance of community and support systems. We should seek to build and be part of communities that nurture and support one another. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Reuel's response to Moses' actions reflect the biblical principle of hospitality, and how can we apply this in our own lives today?2. In what ways does the account of Moses at the well in Midian parallel other biblical accounts involving wells, and what can we learn from these parallels? 3. How does Moses' time in Midian prepare him for his future role as a leader, and what does this teach us about the seasons of preparation in our own lives? 4. What role does community play in Moses' life during his time in Midian, and how can we cultivate supportive communities in our own faith journeys? 5. Reflect on a time when a seemingly ordinary encounter turned out to be a divine appointment. How can we become more aware of God's hand in our daily interactions? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 24The account of Rebekah meeting Abraham's servant at a well, which parallels Moses' encounter with Reuel's daughters, highlighting divine providence and the importance of wells as meeting places. Exodus 18 Later interactions between Moses and Jethro, where Jethro provides wise counsel to Moses, showing the ongoing relationship and influence Jethro has in Moses' life. Acts 7:29 Stephen's speech references Moses' flight to Midian, providing a New Testament perspective on Moses' time in Midian as part of God's preparation for his leadership. People Gershom, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Levi, Moses, Pharaoh, Reuel, ZipporahPlaces Egypt, Midian, Nile RiverTopics Behind, Bread, Daughters, Eat, Invite, Leave, MealDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 2:20 5355 invitations Library The Ark among the Flags'And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Home as a Stewardship. The Upbringing of Jewish Children The Secret of Its Greatness Motives to Holy Mourning The Faith of Moses. Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee. Consolations against Impatience in Sickness. Man's Misery by the Fall Genealogy According to Luke. Adoption Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology. John the Baptist's Person and Preaching. Exodus Links Exodus 2:20 NIVExodus 2:20 NLT Exodus 2:20 ESV Exodus 2:20 NASB Exodus 2:20 KJV Exodus 2:20 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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