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