Good Morning.
Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” (Numbers 10:29)
As is evident in this verse, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, was also known as Hovav, a name that means “cherished.” I find that to be interesting considering that Moses invites him to join the nation and to be their “eyes.” From the beginning we see that God’s family was not exclusively a genetic family but one of faith. Keep in mind that when Israel came out of Egypt, they were accompanied by a “mixed multitude.” By the time Israel arrived at the banks of the Jordan, there is no further mention of this mixed multitude, implying that those who crossed into Canaan were one people. That thought brings us to another point.
Moses asked his father-in-law, a prince of Midian, to be their guide as they journeyed through the barren wilderness of Midian, which we know today as the Arabian peninsula. Much of this, of course, is vast wasteland, and so, it makes sense to employ the experience of someone who had lived their whole life in this country. However, if the pillar of fire and cloud led them day and night, why did Moses feel it was necessary to have a scout? Rabbinical commentary says that the cloud was not a guide but an indication of when to journey and when to rest.
If that is an accurate interpretation of Scripture — and frankly, I find it plausible — then the implication is that, though the Spirit leads us through life, we still have a responsibility to employ wisdom. The Spirit of God illuminates our understanding of God’s Word and teaches us what we need to know. It is still up to us as to whether or not we apply what we have learned to how we walk it out. Moreover, Wisdom says that it is needful, at times, to employ the knowledge, understanding and wisdom that others have attained. Sometimes that may come from those who are “not our tribe” but who have been brought into our life by God to help us fulfill His purpose for us. If Moses, the man who spoke to God face to face needed help from others once in a while, it stands to reason that we need that kind of help as well.
That kind of assistance and support is definitely something to be “cherished” and just may be God’s way of bringing them into His family. In other words, you never know what God may have in store for you and how He wishes to use others in your life. He might even allow you to be placed in a vulnerable situation in order that He may introduce into your life someone with skills you don’t possess. And it could be that, in helping you, He changes their destiny. So with that in mind, let us be as Moses was — humble and meek and willing to accept wisdom from others — as we navigate the wilderness of life in these troubling times.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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