Abram Planned to adopt a Son

 

Did you know that Abram planned to adopt a son? Yes he did, his name was Eliezer, he was Abram’s servant from Damascus.

Long story short…

War had broken out between enemy nations, as the fighting escalated, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah joined the battle. They were defeated and the enemy absconded with all their possessions, abducted Abram’s nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom, and held him captive.

When Abram heard of this and that Lot and his possessions had been taken, he amassed 318 of his trained fighting-machine-men and went after these out-of-place disrespectful captors.

Abram and his men repossessed all that was taken, and freed the people, including Lot.

All of this you can read about in Genesis chapter 14.

Upon their return, Melchizedek, the High Priest, gave them food to eat and pronounced a blessing on Abram, while the king of Sodom, offered the plunder to Abram as a “thank you” but he refused saying,

“I make a promise to the Lord, the God Most High, who made heaven and earth. I promise that I will not keep anything that is yours. I will not keep even a thread or a sandal strap so that you cannot say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will keep nothing but the food my young men have eaten…” – Genesis 14:22-24 (NCV).

In chapter 15 verse 1 we read that God Himself promises to greatly reward Abram.

After these things happened, the Lord spoke his word to Abram in a vision: “Abram, don’t be afraid. I will defend you, and I will give you a great reward.”

And it is in Abram’s response to God that we learn of his plan to adopt.

You see, Abram was now several years older than when God first promised to make him “a great nation” (Genesis 12:2). I am sure you can understand his “frustration”.

Imagine, you’re 20 years old when you receive a Word from God, you are now 55 years old, and you haven’t seen any sign whatsoever of this promise coming to pass. You, like Abram, will be wondering if what God has said will ever happen. You will start to make your own plans.

That’s what Abram did. After God spoke of giving him “a great reward” Abram must have been like, “Well I’ve been waiting all this time for this promised son but the possibility of Sarai conceiving at her age, looking a little bleakish. So, my slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die.” After a slight pause, Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no son, so a slave born in my house will inherit everything I have.”

It is at this point that Abram’s planned adoption was revealed. Abram planned to adopt a son in the form of his most trusted household servant, Eliezer.

However, “The plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:1 NASB), in other words, you may make your plan, but the Lord has the final say or the last word.

And we see just how true that is in Genesis 15:4-5 (NCV) with God’s reply to Abram,

“He will not be the one to inherit what you have. You will have a son of your own who will inherit what you have. Look at the sky. There are so many stars you cannot count them. Your descendants also will be too many to count.”

How does one respond to that? How did Abram respond to that? That was a good and proper “Shut your mouth!”

God assured Abram that above all else, He was his great reward, even if there was no promise.

Abram needn’t be afraid or anxious or concerned, for God was on his side so he would receive the promised son.

Before this exchange, even though God had spoken to him, because time was going without any manifestation or fulfilment of the promise, Abram could not perceive the possible, he was only seeing the impossible. Sarai, on the flip side of menopause, was way past child-bearing age and Abram was ten years older than her, so he was not holding out hope.

But God!

Beloved, the Lord says this,

“So also will be the word that I speak— it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do.” – Isaiah 55:11 (GNT)

What has the Lord promised you? For what Word are you awaiting fulfilment?

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!”

The Lord’s words to Habakkuk (2:3 TLB) still apply today. You must hold on, be patient and trust that what God says He will do He will surely do.

Abram’s response, in Genesis 15:6, was to believe to be true what the Lord said to him. “And the Lord accepted Abram’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.”

This must also be your response – believe God. Only believe!

Other than God’s word, Abram received no tangible evidence of the son that was promised. Like Abram, stand on the word of the Lord, exercise your faith, for God keeps His promises (see Psalm 145:13) and remember always “These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he makes a promise, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath.” (Hebrews 6:18 NCV).

Sometimes God’s word does not compute but if you have chosen to travel along the spiritual path, then you must understand that more often than not it requires walking by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Along this path, you’ll need to not rely on your fluctuating emotions. It’s tough but it’s doable.

Beloved, God is not limited as we are. We think that it is impossible for a 90-year-old woman and a 100-year-old man to have a child, but God! He transcends the impossible.

Nowadays, with the world seemingly topsy turvy, it’s even more critical for us to trust God with what appears to be impossibilities. Don’t go adopting your own plan. If you are frustrated, anxious, confused and doubtful, go to God. Ask Him to open your eyes to the impossible and activate your belief.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Abram Planned to adopt a Son” © August 30, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

A Lonesome Road

 

Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” – Mark 6:4 (MSG)

Jesus had been all over the region performing miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons and relieving the demon-possessed, yet in Nazareth, His own hometown, He could do nothing. His own people could not benefit from His powerful ministry because they refused to believe that He was the promised Messiah. As a matter of fact, Mark 3:21 tells us that Jesus’ family thought He was crazy, saying of Him, “He is out of his mind.” (ESV).

Can any of you relate?

Your spiritual journey can be a lonesome road. You’d imagine that your family would be your biggest supporters, they’d be your most zealous cheerleaders and encouragers but surprisingly it is those that are closest to you that turn out to be your most ardent critics.

If there are people who do not believe in you, then you can be sure they are family members, friends and neighbours. Strangers will respond to you more readily than your own brothers, sisters, parents and other relatives – they’ll quickly see your spiritual calling and respect it but not those loved ones.

When someone came to Jesus to let Him know that His mother and brothers were outside wanting to speak to Him, Jesus asked, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” After which, pointing to the circle of people seated around Him He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.” (see Mark 3:33-35).

You see, your loved ones know you only in the flesh, so it is difficult for them to view you any other way.

“Who is this new person; this Bible studying Word processor? Isn’t she so-and-so’s daughter? Where’d she suddenly get all this spiritual talk from; all this wisdom and understanding?”

That’s exactly what was said about Jesus in His hometown.

Everything that you may be subjected to on your spiritual journey, Jesus went through. Jesus lived it and even at the height of His ministry, His relatives and neighbours completely ignored Him and cut Him down verbally. The saying “Familiarity breeds contempt”, is never more apparent than when a person is called into ministry by God.

For instance, look at David; not one of his brothers, or his father, believed that God had a great purpose for him to fulfill. In their eyes David was the least likely. He was the youngest, only good for tending sheep, ruddy and scrawny at best.

Not even the venerated prophet Samuel, who God sent to anoint Israel’s future king, could ever imagine that this whisper of a boy was God’s choice. So flabbergasted was Sanuel that God had to tell him, “the Lord does not see as man sees” (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV).

Moses, at 80 years old, still hiding out in Midian, a shadow of the man that he once was, now stammering and unsure of himself, was God’s choice (Exodus 3).

Gideon did not believe in himself, but God believed in him. God knew the person He’d created and chose Gideon and his army of a mere three hundred men to defeat a multitude (Judges 6:11-24 & 7:2).

So you see, it doesn’t matter whether the people you’re in this life with recognize you as God’s chosen vessel or not, all that really matters is that God has chosen you and you recognize yourself as such.

Your job is to listen to God and not the endless chatter of those surrounding you.

You must do what God has called you to do, despite what your family, friends, neighbours or relations say or think or believe.

God knows you in spirit and only those that have been given eyes to see will see, others may never understand your calling.

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” – Matthew 12:50 (ESV)

Obedience is thicker than blood.

Apostle Paul, in Galatians 1:10, encourages us to please God and not give into the pressure of men to do otherwise. To the congregation at Galatia he wrote,

“If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (ESV)

Similarly, Solomon in his God-given wisdom, tells us that “The fear of man brings a snare, but whosoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be lifted up.” (Proverbs 29:25 JUB).

Beloved, if God has called you, then trust Him, you will be safe. The sting may be hurtful but do not stray from what you’ve been called to do and who you’ve been called to be.

There will be “noise”, expect it.

There will be persecution in varying forms, expect that too.

Expect the jeers, the taunts, the demands and commands, the hissy fits, expect the mockery, the spewing of Scripture verses taken out of context in an attempt to prove you wrong.

Expect it all!

Every single person who’s called to the purpose of God has had to endure the same. Jesus Christ was not exempted, He endured the worst, so consider yourself in excellent company.

The psalmist wrote,

“You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow His directions, doing your best to find Him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road He set.” – Psalm 119:1-3 (MSG)

I pray that Almighty God will give you the wherewithal to endure the lonesome road, and that you will not be distracted from His call upon your life, that you will remain steadfast and when you’re feeling weak and defeated you will garner strength from Him, remembering always, that when you are weak He is strong. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A Lonesome Road” © 2017 revisited August 30, 2025

 

 

 

A Circumcised Heart

 

Julie Blossoms by Danae

There are many Scripture verses throughout the Bible telling us about our hearts. This indicates to us that the condition of our hearts must be very important.

For instance, in Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) we learn that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” and in verse 10, the Lord says that He searches our hearts.

Apostle Paul also weighed in, in Romans 1:21, telling us that our hearts can be foolish and darkened.

Other verses let us know that our hearts can be hard, tested, firm, perverted, broken and contrite.

Spiritual seeds can be sown in our hearts.

From our hearts we can act, make our own plans, and do the will of God.

With our whole hearts we can trust God and love Him.

Our hearts can be changed, made pure and, our hearts can be circumcised.

“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart…” – Jeremiah 4:4 (KJV)

When the Bible speaks of the heart it is not referring to your physical heart but to a place that is much deeper inside you.

According to Psalm 103:1, it’s the “all that is deepest within me” part of you – your inmost being from where the rivers of living waters flow (John 7:38). It’s where the deepest activity of the Holy Spirit takes place, beyond our conscious thoughts.

When the Bible speaks of the circumcision of your heart, it’s about the severing of anything that will keep you from being a person whose heart or spirit is right before God.

Circumcision of your heart is the casting off of your fleshly nature (the old life) and the sins of the flesh (see Colossians 2:11-13). This is an inner, unseen circumcision performed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29), who cuts away whatever is useless in, and a hindrance to your new life.

When God told Abraham to literally circumcise himself and every male, eight days old and older (read Genesis 17), it was symbolic of their new beginning.

Today beloved, your new beginning will commence with a circumcised heart.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson "A Circumcised Heart" © 2016 revisited August 29, 2025

A Curious Comment Part Four

 

But why out of the seven did he choose Zipporah?

Moses agreed to settle down there with the man, who then gave his daughter Zipporah (Bird) to him for his wife. – Exodus 2:21 (MSG)

In Luke 5:4 we read,

Now go out where it is deeper (NLT) Here, Jesus was speaking to Simon (Peter).

Too many of us prefer to remain on shore or venture only to where the water gently laps the sand; it’s where we feel safe or most comfortable, and that’s okay. But Jesus Himself tells us to “go out where it is deeper”.

Are you ready? If not, remain where you are, in your comfort zone, on the surface of the pages. If you are ready, let’s dive right in…under the surface where the words come alive.

Zipporah was already pregnant.

Wait, wait, before you, like Haman did for Mordecai, build a gallows for me, stay under the surface of the words for a while longer.

Let us move forward in bible time to 2 Samuel chapter 11. David and Bathsheba. Remember? David has his way with Bathsheba while her husband, Uriah, is away fighting in David’s army.

Later she sent word to David: “I’m pregnant.”

And what did David try to do? Remember? David called Uriah back home and tells him to have relations with his wife, because king David’s plan was to pass this baby off as Uriah’s to avoid the scandal.

Ezekiel chapter 22 tells us of all the lewd activities that were commonly practiced in those days and after Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God’s commandments in Leviticus 18, condemned and forbade their incestuous sexual conduct. And these people were Israelites.

At that time there was no Christianity, no Holy Spirit indwelling to convict. There was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshipped by the Israelites and there were gods, worshipped by Gentiles.

Reuel and his daughters were Midianites. Gentiles. You may argue saying “But Abraham was his grandfather” and you are correct, but his father Midian was cast away by Abraham (Genesis 25:1-6). Midianites worshipped multiple gods. Reuel was an idol worshipping priest, owner of an idolatrous temple, which more than likely, as was customary, would have housed temple prostitutes.

There is no mention of Reuel’s wife, or the mother of his seven daughters. It would not have been uncommon for Reuel to have an incestuous relationship with one or all of his daughters.

Moses himself, before Exodus chapter 3, did not know God either. For all intents and purposes, he was an Egyptian, educated in Egyptian ways and customs, after all he was only 3 months old when he was given to Pharoah’s daughter to be raised as her son.

Beloved, understand that these biblical characters were real people living at a real time in history.

Stay under the surface of the words for a while longer.

Zipporah was already pregnant.

Reuel, the priest, saw Moses as a solution to his problems. It wasn’t just about sheep.

If David’s initial plan hadn’t failed, Uriah would have believed that the baby Bathsheba was carrying was his.

Moses believed that Gershom was his son, his firstborn son, but Moses did not “refuse to let him go”

God had spoken,

And I say to you, Let My son go, that he may serve Me; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, your firstborn. – Exodus 4:23 (AMPC)

Zipporah understood what was about to happen, her father was refusing to let them go and she knew the truth.

Stay under the surface of the words for a while longer.

And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision. – Exodus 4:24-26 (NKJV)

So, beloved, we are back where we started.

Zipporah’s curious comment, spoken not once but twice. She calls her husband, “a husband of blood” after she performs her son’s circumcision.

But before we even get to Zipporah’s curious comment, we need to fathom her curious action.

A 40-year-old man’s mother performs his circumcision. Why? And, as a Midianite, how did she know to do so? This is yet another one of those things Scripture dose not spell out for us.

Was it instinctive? A woman’s intuition? A gut feeling? Or was it something else? The Lord was there, at the encampment. Could the Lord have spoken to her? We are not told.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter…” – Proverbs 25:2 (HCSB)

Just as God spoke to Hagar, the Egyptian mother of Ishmael, so too He may have spoken to Gershom’s Midianite mother. Somehow, Zipporah knew exactly what needed to be done to save her son’s life and she did not hesitate to cut off his foreskin. After which the Lord “let him go”

Gershom’s circumcision was necessary for them to be “cut off” from Midian. They could not move forward into this new beginning without this separation. A cutting off that was at once literal and symbolic.

And, with his mother’s act of courage, Gershom was no longer “Stranger” but a Jew, he belonged, he belonged to a new tribe – Israel – he belonged to God; he was now Moses’ son.

Zipporah saved them all, Gershom, her son, Moses, her husband, Eliezer and herself. They were all set free from bondage to Jethro and to Midian. This was a foreshadow of what was to come.

Beloved, God speaks to all individuals in different ways, both Jew and Gentile, slave and free.

Stay under the surface of the words for a while longer.

“Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” …Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision

Zipporah’s act had also cut off her tie to her incestuous father, her blood relative. The removal of the foreskin in circumcision represents the removal of sin. Her action enabled her disconnection from that sinful act and the sinful nation of Midian and its idolatry. Every blood tie was now severed for herself and for her son. God had set them free. She too belonged.  

She cast the foreskin – her sin – not at the feet of her earthly husband but at the feet of the Lord, the Bridegroom, her “husband of blood” to whom she was now tied, “because of the circumcision”.

Zipporah was not speaking to Moses when she made that curious comment; she was crying out to the Lord who was there with them. She was making a declaration to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Gershom.

She broke with her sin-filled past. She was now connected to God. When Zipporah circumcised Gershom’s foreskin, her heart was also circumcised (see Jeremiah 4:4). Hers was an inner circumcision, made, unseen, by the hand of God.

Bird was now free.

photo courtesy O'Reilly Lewis

Beloved, never be afraid to “go out where it is deeper”, for you do not know where the Lord will take you. Proverbs 25:2 continues, “and the glory of kings to investigate a matter”

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A Curious Comment Part Four” © August 27, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

A Curious Comment Part Three

We are about to dive under the surface of this curious-comment-story. It’s going to be a deep dive, so prepare yourself for a long haul.

Zipporah’s father…

In certain narratives, Reuel, the priest of Midian and the priest of the Midianites is described as a humanitarian, who out of empathy and compassion, provided a home for Moses, a man on the run.

Let’s see what Scripture says. Let’s go under the surface of the words – Exodus 2:15-22 (MSG)

Moses is a fugitive. He killed a man in Egypt and is now on the run. He ends up in a place called Midian and comes upon a well. He must have been thirsty and hungry after several weeks sojourning through harsh landscape from Egypt to Midian; this well must have been a welcome sight.

Moses got away to the land of Midian. He sat down by a well.

Some see Reuel as a single father lovingly caring for seven daughters.

The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, filling the troughs and watering their father’s sheep. When some shepherds came and chased the girls off, Moses came to their rescue and helped them water their sheep.

When they got home to their father, Reuel, he said, “That didn’t take long. Why are you back so soon?”

If Reuel was a lovingly caring father, why are his young daughters being sent out to see about his sheep? Why isn’t he or a hired hand out there? He asks his daughters, “Why are you back so soon?” an indication that these girls clocked some late hours.

“An Egyptian,” they said, “rescued us from a bunch of shepherds. Why, he even drew water for us and watered the sheep.”

Moses had to rescue these girls from a bunch of shepherds. Under the words, we see that Reuel’s seven daughters were not women who would have easily defended themselves against the shepherds’ harassment, these were very young girls. Girls who had to be rescued by “an Egyptian” – a complete stranger stood up for them against these shepherds.

We can deduce that Reuel was the only priest in Midian, since we are told that he was the priest and not a priest; we can also deduce that he was not well respected by his community, otherwise these shepherds would not have driven his daughters away.

A respected priest’s daughters would have garnered respect.

Why were they disrespected by the shepherds? Their own father did not respect them, so no one else did and chances are that was well known throughout the community, so neither was he.

Read into their father’s response.

He said, “So where is he? Why did you leave him behind? Invite him so he can have something to eat with us.”

How thoughtful of Reuel to demonstrate such hospitality. But was he being hospitable or was there some other motive? As you read this line, you can literally see Reuel’s mind spinning as thoughts of his good fortune rolled around in his head.

Reuel needed someone who could attend to his flock. A person who the shepherds would not harass. A strong able guy who could put in the hours necessary. Even though there were seven of them, these girls just weren’t cutting it.

Remember, Reuel was the priest of an idolatrous temple. In those days he would have needed sheep to sacrifice on people’s behalf; people would have to purchase animals for sacrificing. Sheep that were properly cared for so he can rake in top dollar.

Reuel was running a business. He was no fool. He was as shrewd as a snake (ref. Matthew 10:16) but not yet as innocent as a dove, that didn’t come until much later – that’s a story for another day.

Reuel, we are told, is not just a priest but the priest of Midian, devoted to his god and temple. He was the priest, and he owned the temple.

Beloved, we are under the surface of the words.

Moses agreed to settle down there with the man, who then gave his daughter Zipporah (Bird) to him for his wife.

Reuel and Moses, had come to an agreement. Reuel must have realized, even before meeting him, that Moses was a fugitive. Why else would “an Egyptian” leave the riches of Egypt to come to an obscure desert country.

Though not explicitly written, Reuel, as a cunningly wise businessman, saw an opportunity for financial growth and was very willing to house and hide this perfect stranger at no cost to him, and in return Moses was prepared to do whatever was required to ensure his anonymity and safekeeping. And as a bonus, Reuel “in time” “threw in” the only named daughter Zipporah.

But why out of the seven did he choose Zipporah? Anyway…

Would you give your daughter to a convict? Reuel did not know Moses, he did not care, his heart was hard. He offered his daughters no protection, neither from shepherds nor strangers.

Beloved, we are under the surface of the words.

Zipporah bore a son.

She had a son, and Moses named him Gershom (Sojourner), saying, “I’m a sojourner in a foreign country.”

Even after marriage, Moses still considered himself a stranger. He was a stranger in many ways, so he named Zipporah’s son to suit the circumstances. Remember, names were and are important.

This line should not be overlooked. The Word usually says,

“Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son” (Genesis 21:2 NKJV) or

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son” (Luke 1:13 ESV) or

Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son (1 Samuel 1:19, 20 NASB)

So why, in Exodus 15:22, we are told that Zipporah had a son, then Moses named the son that Zipporah had. A small detail appears to be missing.

Beloved, we are under the surface of the words.

I was having a conversation with a woman I know fairly well, we enjoy the same sort of activities, so we go out together from time to time. We would chat about this and that, but our conversations never touched on personal subjects but out one evening she began telling me about her marriage. Surprisingly she said, “I had an affair, and I got pregnant”. In stunned realization of what she’d let out of the bag, her voice tapered off and she immediately changed the topic. For her sake, and her husband’s, I did not react but moved right along with her into the new topic. It was never brought up again.

This is precisely what happened in Exodus 2:22. We are told that Zipporah bore a son, Moses named him “Stranger” and immediately by verse 23, the topic changes to the Israelites in Egypt crying out and then a whole new chapter begins.

Yes, Moses may have named the boy, but from all indications, he did not father the boy. Gershom was not Moses’ firstborn son. At this point, Moses was a stranger to fatherhood.

Throughout these verses, this child is Zipporah’s son. It wasn’t until later that he is referred to as Moses’ son.

You would recall, that in Exodus chapter 4, God told Moses of the hardening of Pharoah’s heart that would cause him to not let His people go, but Moses was not lost on this detail, as he had already experienced another whose heart was just as hard.

Beloved, God always allows you to get a taste of your assignment before your assignment.

Let’s look at Exodus 4

But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go. Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’” – Exodus 4:21-23 (NLT)

“But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!”

Wash off your mask and put it on again. Don’t you see it?

Who refused to let the people go? Moses refused to let himself, Zipporah and Gershom go? Okay, so you want to remove Moses?

Who refused to let Zipporah and Gershom go? Was it Moses? They were all heading out of Midian.

Jethro gave Moses permission to leave and go back to Egypt but changed his mind when his daughter and his firstborn were on that donkey.

It was Jethro who refused to let his firstborn son go, not Moses.

Beloved, we are under the surface of the words.

Let us paddle back a bit. When Moses had his amazing burning bush encounter, he was on the backside of Mount Horeb.

the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. – Exodus 3:2 (ESV)

Forty years had passed between Exodus 2:22 and Exodus 3:2. Moses was still “keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro”, working for free, all this time.

Moses’ assignment was to go to Egypt and free God’s people from slavery. Who works for no pay? Slaves. Moses was a slave for Jethro in Midian.

God wants His people free, He wants His people to be taken out of slavery, in whatever form that slavery may take, then and now.

In chapter 4, God was not only talking about Pharoah.

Beloved, we need to stay under the words, submerged a little while longer. Are you with me? Let’s come up for air and prepare to dive again another day. Amen?

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A Curious Comment Part Three” © August 26, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Curious Comment Part Two

 

Another day has dawned, so let’s continue this story.

Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” – Exodus 2:21-22 (NLT)

Have you noticed that in Exodus chapter 2, Moses’ father-in-law’s name is Reuel but by the time you turn the page to chapter 3, he’s Jethro? Curious.

What’s in a name? Well names are important, they establish identity and especially in ancient times, a person was named to signify the circumstances of their birth, names were given according to prevailing situations and names were changed to demonstrate a person’s nature, character or new status.

For instance, God changed Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah. After wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, Jacob received a name change, becoming Israel. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were renamed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Simon became Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter/Petros (Greek). Saul became Paul after his incredible conversion. And there are many more. 

Even Moses wasn’t born Moses but was given that name by Pharaoh’s daughter because she “lifted him out of the water” (Exodus 2:10).

So yes, Reuel became Jethro.

It was Reuel who invited the fugitive Moses to live with him and after some time “gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife”. But it was Jethro who lied and changed his mind when Moses asked permission to leave and was on his way out of Midian.

Reuel means “friend of God” or “shepherded by God”, so as the priest of Midian, you can say that his name reflected his vocation. Now, this Reuel was a descendant of Midian, who was the estranged son of Abraham and his wife Keturah.

Now Abraham married again. Keturah was his new wife, and she bore him several children: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah.  Abraham deeded everything he owned to Isaac; however, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off into the east, away from Isaac. – Genesis 25:1-2 and 5-6 (TLB)

This Reuel, the priest of Midian, was not an Israelite, he was a Midianite, a nomadic tribe of people. His religious beliefs and practices were not the same as the people of Israel. Reuel, the priest, served and worshipped a god, not God. So, in his case, his name meant, “friend of god” or “shepherded by god”.

Moses’s father-in-law was an idolator.

The name Jethro signifies abundance, excellence and pre-eminence. Oh what a name change from “shepherded by god”. Was this an indication of a promotion in status?

Reuel or Jethro, different name, same lout. Yes, I wrote what I wrote. I am sure that some persons are in full disagreement with me but there’s nothing wrong with looking at something from a different perspective.

Beloved, you must never be afraid to venture deep into the pages of the bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Why a lout? Even though, at a glance, Zipporah’s father’s names describe a person of upstanding character they were not indicative of who this man really was. So who was the father of Zipporah?

In many places, he’s presented as a humanitarian, who out of empathy and compassion, provided a home for Moses, a man on the run. He is described as a single father lovingly caring for seven daughters. He’s portrayed as not just a priest but the priest of Midian, devoted to his god and temple.

But was he all that? On the surface maybe, but beneath the words, who was he? 

Shall we venture out into the deep?

Are you with me? Are you ready to dive into Part 3? Amen? Well, get those flippers and mask on, let’s go.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A Curious Comment Part Two” © August 25, 2025

 

 

 

A Curious Comment

 

Forty years had passed since Moses fled Egypt. Now an eighty-year-old shepherd tending to his father-in-law’s herd, Moses, living in the land of Midian, was married and the father of two boys.

This was when he encountered God in the burning bush.

God commanded Moses to return to Egypt with the assurance, “It is safe for you to go back to Egypt now. The men who wanted to kill you are now dead.” (Exodus 4:19 ERV)

Moses took his family, put them on a donkey and set out for the place where his story began. (v 20). His assignment, to free God’s people from slavery.

But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go. Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’” – Exodus 4:21-23 (NLT)

Think on what God declares here that anyone who refuses to “let the people go”, their firstborn son will be killed.

The story continues.

But it came about at the overnight encampment on the way, that the Lord met Moses, and sought to put him to death. (v 24 NASB)

The Lord sought to put Moses to death? This makes no sense, some crucial parts between the verses must be written in invisible ink.

Remember, this devotion is titled “A Curious Comment”. Yes, verse 24 is cause to wonder, however, it is not the most curious.

The story continues with verses 25 and 26 in the NASB translation which reads,

So Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet; and she said, 

here it comes,

“You are indeed a groom of blood to me!” 

What just happened? And what a curious comment to make.

So He [God] left him alone. At that time she said, “You are a groom of blood”— because of the circumcision.

Moses’ wife makes a curious comment not once but twice. She calls her husband, “a groom of blood” after she performs her son’s circumcision. 

By now you ought to be puzzled by what has unfolded in what first seemed to be an innocuous story.

We can safely conclude that the “him” who God sought to put to death was not Moses. Moses did not refuse to let God’s people go and he was not a firstborn son. Moses was his birth parent’s third child.

So, who had refused, and who was this firstborn son?

In this whole narrative, there are only two people who fit the bill. Let’s figure out the latter. The only firstborn that we know for sure, is Zipporah’s son. But why would God seek to kill him? Numbers 23:19 holds the answer,

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? (NLT)

This is why.

Earlier, I told you to think on Exodus 4:21-23. God declared a thing and He has to carry it through.

Okay, before the Moses family even left for Egypt, before Moses even met Pharoah, there was one person who, if you read Exodus chapter 4 carefully, had a hard heart – Moses’ father-in-law.

Beloved, there’s so much to this story that it requires more than one blog post. It’s filled with intrigue and bacchanal.

It was Zipporah’s father who refused to let them go. Like Pharaoh, he was stubborn. He, a man, was a liar, he pretended to agree to Moses’ first request. Then on their way out of Midian, as a human, he changed his mind, forcing God to enact what He had spoken.

But, but, but wait a minute. If Zipporah’s father refused to let them go, then why kill Moses’ firstborn son?

Let’s look back a bit.

Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” – Exodus 2:21-22 (NLT)

Zipporah gave birth to a son, her firstborn, who was also the firstborn son of the man who refused.

Who was the man who refused?

Zipporah’s comment, “You are indeed a groom of blood to me!”, is curious but this whole story is even more so.

Let’s continue this story another day. Amen?

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A Curious Comment” © August 25, 2025

 

 

 

 

A Steady Hope

 

“The tree might give up hope altogether under the weight of the winter snow if it were not aware of the coming spring”

Do you realize that it is under the worst conditions that character is developed?

Paul put it this way:

“…we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. Taken in the right spirit these very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us...” – Romans 5:3-5 (Phillips)

There is no other way for mature character to be formed but in the harshest environments. God puts you through these seasons of testing, some more severe than others, because He is producing in you that hope which Scripture describes as steady and “will never disappoint”.

This steady hope cannot be grown otherwise; it springs from deep within you, out of a love God pours into your heart by His own Spirit living inside you. So that, even when you’re going through the winter storms of life, and God seems cold and distant, you can find comfort in knowing that He is indeed with you because His Holy Spirit resides in you.

“No situation, no matter how wretched it seems, but has some sort of comfort attending it” – Goldsmith

Begin to see these challenging times as seasonal, and rest assured, as with all seasons, it shall soon pass, for Winter always gives way to Spring. And, after you have patiently endured, you will be a different person, with a different outlook and a different sense of purpose – that is character building; that is forging a steadfast hope.

Such steady hope is the perpetual fuel that propels you forward, though your winter may be long and extreme in nature.

Such steady hope has the power to keep you focused on God, and the coming Spring, despite the biting cold and frost.

Beloved, your Winter experience is not in vain, it is a necessary phase of your spiritual journey, so savour the time of dank as preparation to burst forth anew, all the while remembering that winter makes the dawn of spring all the more beautiful.

“…the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers are springing up and the time of the singing of birds has come. Yes, spring is here.” – Song of Songs 2:11-12 (TLB)

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A Steady Hope” © 2017 revisited August 24, 2025

What Do You Have?

 

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many?” – John 6:9 (DLNT)

It’s not enough, there are only five loaves and two fish!

It’s not enough, there are only seven rounds of flatbread and a few small fish! (ref. Matthew 15:33-34)

Like the disciples, we often look at what we have and believe that it’s not enough. That’s because we always focus on what we don’t have. We spend too much time meditating on what we believe is lack rather than seeing the abundance that we have in Christ Jesus.

Remember, what you focus on is what you will magnify and more times than not it is what will manifest. So, if you’re focused on lack, guess what?

The thing is, Jesus wants you to know what you have. Here are some things Jesus wants you to know:

You have a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).

You have a share in everything bright and beautiful that God has for His children (Colossians 1:12).

You have the power to successfully produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).

You have everything you need to experience a godly life full of His glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).

And there is so much more!

The boy in John 6:9 brought all that he had to Jesus. To the disciples it didn’t look like much, certainly it wasn’t enough “for so many” but Jesus took it, looked up to God, gave Him thanks, and it fed thousands and still even more remained – not just a little but twelve baskets full were left over.

Beloved, stop looking at what you think you don’t have and bring all that you have to Jesus, give Him thanks and watch Him bless it, use it and increase it.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “What Do You Have?” © 2017 revisited August 23, 2025

 

A Perfect Work

The woman at the well, her heart now opened to receive, responds to Jesus’ revelation of truth by saying something else that she knew for sure.

She said to Him,

“I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” – John 4:25 (HCSB)

And, Jesus addressed her one last time,

“I am He…the One speaking to you.” – John 4:26 (HCSB)

With these words, Christ opened the flood gates and living water thrust into the heart of this Samaritan woman – the effluence of the Holy Spirit of God from His heart to hers.

The power of the Good News of Christ Jesus bringing healing to her soul, cleansing her by the “washing of the water by the Word” (see Ephesians 5:26); this indescribable “water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (see Revelation 22:1) flowing into her like a cascading waterfall.

Jesus, as man, weary, sat at the well; Jesus, as God, knew that there was to be found in Samaria the sheep that was lost. Seven times Jesus spoke and seven times this Samaritan woman received the Word of God.

Seven, the number of perfection.

How perfect is Divine wisdom, how infinite in its working?

Like the seven days of creation, at this well, seven utterances to a new creation.

At this well, seven Words of Salvation.

This woman, once condemned by self and man, experienced the love of the Son of God – authentic love, and with a heart convinced by the Spirit of God, she experienced a spiritual metamorphosis. It was her end yet at once her beginning, a new beginning in Christ

“…anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17(MSG).

Oh what joy fills your heart when you come to the realization that every word you’ve received was from Messiah, and every moment spent was with Christ, and everything that transpired was of God’s making!

In this state of euphoria, this Samaritan woman abandoned every plan that she had made. Leaving her water jar behind, she ran back to town to tell every man and woman of her divine encounter, encouraging each one to “Come and see for yourselves”.

From her testimony and the message of Christ many believed and were saved (see John 4:28-43).  

That day at that well, Jesus completed the work He came to do, the will of God, a perfect work.

Amen†

Shelley Johnson “A Perfect Work” © 2017 revisited August 22, 2025

 

 

What About Shiphrah and Puah?

 

Shiphrah and Puah, two names you may not recognize but their remarkable deed you’ve probably heard of…

Long story short…

Several centuries had passed since Joseph, during a great famine, had not only saved the lives of his own family but thousands of Egyptians as well. He and many generations after him were now long gone and his awesome deed forgotten when a particular king of Egypt was newly appointed.

By this time, the Israelite population had grown exponentially from Jacob’s seventy-member family to hundreds of thousands. The Hebrews occupied all of Egypt’s fertile eastern Nile Delta region, in the best of the land…in the land of Goshen (see Genesis 47:6).

As fertile as this region was so too the Hebrew women. In this ancient time, Israel had become a burgeoning nation. With no slowing in the population growth in sight, the newly appointed Pharoah, fearful, devised a plan to curb this birth spurt (read Exodus 1).

His first tactic, revealed in Exodus 1:11-14, failed miserably.

His second, revealed in verses 15-16, was a dastardly act of a pusillanimous king. And here is where we are introduced to two women who saved a nation.

Their names, Shiphrah and Puah, only appear this one time but their good deed is etched in eternity, for these two incredibly courageous midwives stymied the plan of a ruthless tyrant driven by craven fear.

Shiphrah and Puah’s reverential fear of God superseded their fear of Pharaoh, as they put their lives at risk to shield the innocent from unmitigated violence.

Don’t be afraid of people. They can kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is God, the one who can send the body and the soul to be destroyed in hell. – Matthew 10:28 (ERV)

Looking at Pharaoh, Shiphrah and Puah, though very different in source, we see that fear is a powerful motivator.

the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. – Exodus 1:17 (ERV)

Unlike these two God-fearing Hebrew midwives, this Egyptian king had never seen the hand of God in action.

Their names may be embedded in obscurity but without Shiphrah and Puah there would be no story to tell, no Moses to lead a people to freedom.

The integral participation of these two midwives in the birthing of a nation, birthed their own irrevocable blessings from God (see Numbers 23:20).

And because the midwives revered and feared God, He made them households [of their own]. – Exodus 1:21 (AMPC)

In the natural scheme of things, Pharoah’s plan should have worked but nothing and no-one can thwart God’s plans, for it is written,

I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted. – Job 42:2 (AMPC)

Yes beloved, God can do all things, but He uses people to carry out His purpose here on earth, and just as He used two ordinary midwives to do the extraordinary, He will use you too. Are you ready and willing?

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What About Shiphrah and Puah?” © August 21, 2025

 

 

 

A lesson from the king of Judah

Too many times, we compromise for the sake of remaining in someone else’s good books or lower our standards to maintain relationships with persons we ought not to be aligned, whether in love or business.

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was a godly man who “did the right things in the Lord’s eyes”, however he compromised for the sake of peace by removing the prostitutes from the local shrines but not destroying the shrines, thereby allowing these shrines to be “still used as places for offering sacrifices” (see 1 Kings 22:43).

The king of Judah also compromised, when, in an effort to curb the hostility between their two kingdoms, he married off his son to the daughter of the despicable idolatrous king of Israel, Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel, creating a familial bond with them.

At a later time, for the sake of commerce, Jehoshaphat entered into a business arrangement with yet another of Israel’s kings, Azariah, who was equally as wicked, idolatrous and repugnant as his father before him, Ahab.

King Jehoshaphat had a weakness for making deals with tyrannical miscreants who were not Godfearing men like himself.

Imagine this godly king of Judah, saying to a known idol worshipper who “did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than all the kings of Israel before him” (1 Kings 16:33 GNT), “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” (1 Kings 22:4 AMPC).

Jehoshaphat knew that Ahab was not as he was; he knew that their people and horses were not of the same ilk. He knew that they were unequally yoked, that their loyalties were vastly different, yet with his eyes wide open, he foolishly aligned himself with wickedness.

But isn’t that what we have a tendency to do? Diminishing our “Christianity” to get into bed with non-believers? We habitually make concessions to our spiritual and moral beliefs so that unbelievers aren’t discomforted.

You are not the same as those who don’t believe. So don’t join yourselves to them. Good and evil don’t belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same room. How can there be any unity between Christ and the devil? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? – 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (ERV)

Beloved, Apostle Paul could not be any clearer about making ungodly alliances.

You need to truly grasp that as a believer, God’s Spirit lives in you, you are His temple (see 1 Corinthians 3:16). It is ill-advised to partner with persons who reject God.

God Himself tells us to “leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good. Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.” (1 Corinthians 3:17 MSG)

We just don’t understand the consequences, both spiritual and otherwise, that can arise from these unwise linkups. The raw truth is, if you keep sleeping with a dog, you’re bound to get fleas.

So, Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 GNT)!

There was no wool covering the king of Judah’s eyes but sometimes you won’t know beforehand the type of person with whom you may be getting into communion. That’s why “before you do anything, ask God for guidance.” (1 Kings 22:5 MSG).

Yes, be insistent in seeking God’s guidance. Don’t jump into things because they look good, feel good and sound good. Bogus stuff comes in irresistible packaging.

Beloved, "not all skin teeth is a smile”, if it seems like a charade, chances are it is a charade.

Learn a lesson from the king of Judah, do not ignore the vibrant red flag at full mast that’s flying in your face.

Learn a lesson from the king of Judah, if you’re hearing spiritual sirens blaring, as faint as the sound may be, still get out the way.

Learn a lesson from the king of Judah, do not ignore the sparking socket, turn off the circuit breaker and pull the plug.

Learn a lesson from the king of Judah, if there is any sense of dis-ease, know that it just might become epidemic.

Learn a lesson from the king of Judah, go to God first, always.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A lesson from the king of Judah” © August 19, 2025

 

 

“Indefinitely”

 

Indefinitely is defined as something that is done or that will go on, for an undetermined period of time, without a foreseeable end.

Can you imagine yourself doing something on and on and on with no end in sight? Especially if it’s some tedious chore, or a dull boring job.

Just having to wait for any undetermined period of time can send one insane with impatience and frustrate the skin off your bones. But do you know that that is exactly what the disciples had to do?

Jesus had told them to wait for the Father’s promise. It was after His resurrection, He appeared to the disciples and one of the things He said to them was,

“…Wait here until you receive what the Father promised to send…” Acts 1:4 (ERV)

Jesus never specified a period of time, as a matter of fact, when time was brought up, this was Jesus’ response,

“The Father is the only one who has the authority to decide dates and times. They are not for you to know.” Acts 1:7 (ERV)

Another translation says it like this, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business.” (MSG)

The disciples quickly understood that if they did not wait, they would not receive what God had promised. They went into the Upper Room to wait no matter how long it would take.

Acts 1:13 states, “And when they had entered [the city], they mounted [the stairs] to the upper room where they were [indefinitely] staying…” (AMPC)

Clearly, they were in this for the long haul. They’d made up their minds that they were not leaving that room until that promise manifested – they were prepared to wait indefinitely.

Yes, indefinitely, with no foreseeable end; not for a day or two, not a month or a year but for how ever long it took God to show up, they were determined to wait on Him.

Let me tell you, indefinitely is a long time and for us humans, having to wait indefinitely for anything is hard for us to do, it’s pure drudgery. We can barely wait 30 seconds for the microwave.

But we, you and I, need to know that even if we are not seeing an end or feeling something, God is working His purpose out on our behalf, and He will do what He says He will do. You get it?

Hebrews 10:36 assures us that if we stick it out with faith and patience, we will receive God’s promise. Not just me, you too – “we”; so beloved, with this in mind, ask God to teach you how to wait, and wait, and wait, and then wait some more, on Him…Indefinitely.

Amen†

Shelley Johnson “Indefinitely” © 2016 revisited August 19, 2025