Day 8 – Exodus 18:1-6

  18 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. ² After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her ³ and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have become an alien in a foreign land”; ⁴ and the other was named Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” ⁵ Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God. ⁶ Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.” ^[1]

The text for today is a difficult one, hitting directly home for those of us in full-time ministry. At some point in the exodus from Egypt Moses had sent away his wife, Zipporah along with their two sons. They had returned to her country and her family, but now Jethro, her father comes and brings back to Moses his wife and sons. It is almost as if Jethro is saying to Moses, “This is your responsibility, not mine.” The text does not tell us the reason or reasons why Moses sent his wife away. It is apparent from the meaning of the sons’ names that they were party to the exodus. However, as we read the remaining of the chapter it seems that ministry may very well have gotten in the way. Jethro observes Moses sitting from the break of day until evening arbitrating the disputes of the people and suddenly it seems entirely plausible that Moses was so consumed with the people that he neglected his first responsibility, his family.

For those of us in full-time ministry this account strikes a little closer to home, perhaps, than we would like. Many have gotten their commitment to God mixed up with their commitment to the church they serve. Consequently their marriages suffer and their relationships with their children become strained to the point that they become bitter at the church and even at God. How many PKs (preachers’ kids) are in rebellion with God today because they felt neglected by their ministry parents? How many marriages have died because spouses, particularly wives felt underappreciated, even unwanted? I know, first hand the pain such misplaced commitments can inflict, but also the redemption that can be achieved. God gave us family we are to love and serve before we love and serve the churches and the people to which we have been assigned. Join me today in some reprioritization; God comes first, spouses second, children third, then self, and finally the ministry or our jobs. It is an investment we dare not any longer overlook.

Lord Jesus, I never seriously considered that the time I spent serving Your people might have an adverse affect on my family and for that I am sorry. Help me to redeem the times. Help me to salvage broken relationships. Help me restore my children back to You who have gone astray. Let my family, my marriage, give You glory and serve as an example to the world of how great and good You really are. Amen.