Among the most repeated aggravations, to the point of break-up, reported by wives and husbands is tension with in-laws. The problems are often petty, but may be substantive and complex relating to lifestyles, attitudes, grandchildren, geography, faith and money. Of the reports of in-law relations nothing may be found more positive than the story of the relationship of Moses with his father-in-law, Jethro. Remembering that Scripture is God’s word to mankind, there is guidance in this personal story of two gifted and good men whose mutual goal was to serve others well and honor God. They began as quite different in faith, experience, wisdom, even celebrity.
Moses first met Jethro after defending the shepherdess daughters of Jethro at a well where the women attempted to water their flocks. Gross men intimidated the women and watered their own animals. Moses intervened to gain justice for the women. We do not know how he accomplished the task, but he succeeded. (He may have simply included Jethro’s sheep with his own until the bullies were gone.) Later, hearing report of the event, Jethro was surprised that the traveler had not been invited to dinner, so sent for Moses. Learning of Moses’ uncertainty about his future, Jethro employed him. Staying on, Moses ultimately married a Jethro daughter, Zipporah.
The marriage mixed two cultures, inevitably leading to problems, sometimes related to religion. Jethro was a Midianite priest, and Moses was a believer in Jehovah. When Moses was pressed by his faith to circumcise his sons, there was tension. Moses demurred. Feeling revulsion by the procedure, Zipporah performed the surgery, and responded fiercely to her husband. Matters declined for the couple and their sons as Moses pressed on to fulfill the call of God from the burning bush – to lead Israel out of Egypt. At length, Moses sent Zipporah and the boys back to her father. When Moses went into Egypt he turned for support and solace to his brother, Aaron, and elder sister Miriam, who had helped care for him when he was an infant. His marriage faltered.
Jethro became the agent for healing between his daughter and son-in-law. When he heard that Moses had succeeded in leading Israel out of Egypt he thought it time to attempt reconciliation. He accompanied Zipporah and her sons to the encampment. The meeting was cordial, including camaraderie and catch up of family conversation. The family was reunited. Jethro followed Moses for a few days to learn how he adjudicated for the people. He offered excellent counsel to Moses, for the personal benefit of Moses and for the good of Israel. One of the accents of the visit was the conversion of Jethro to the faith of Jehovah. A celebration followed touching all of Israel. It was as surely a conversion as that of the Apostle Paul on the Road to Damascus. Moses urged Jethro to join him in the work. But, wise old Jethro knew that such an ongoing relationship bore seeds of misunderstanding. With his objective complete, Jethro insisted on returning home, so removing himself from the scene. Besides, changing his faith would require some creative approach to his ministry of a lifetime at his home base. One might wish for more biography here to discover how he worked through any change. Given what we know of Jethro, we can assume that he resolved the issues well. Moses and Zipporah had to make their way without interference or help from Dad. What a family man was Jethro. Family problem solving affirms this vignette. There is a special advantage to those persons who learn how to develop family as God’s favorite human grouping that leads to ministry of love that infers caring protection, of culture that infers maturation, and sharing that means society. Many moderns have lost it. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020