The story of Jethro coming to meet Moses here brings up some
strange circumstances and questions. He
is described as a priest of Midian but we don't know whether that means he
acknowledges Yahweh or the gods of the Midianites. After hearing Moses' story we see that he gives
glory to Yahweh over the other gods but so did the seamen in the Jonah story
once the sea had calmed after tossing Jonah overboard and that seemed to be a
one-time event. The other oddity is that
he brings his daughter, Moses' wife, Zipporah and their two children with
him. The text says that Moses had
"sent her home" or "dismissed her." She is described as Moses' wife but there is
some question whether he has divorced her and this is a reunion of sorts. She is never mentioned again and later we are
told that Moses marries a Cushite woman.
Every time we meet her there is something strange about their
situation. At any rate, the Midianites
have now a witness concerning the Lord's work in bringing out the people from
Egypt, a first-hand account from Moses to their priest.
As always, please not the disclaimer concerning the text
from Mark. It is not found in the best
or oldest texts of the Gospel.
Unfortunately, it forms the basis for the worship practices for some in
our little corner of Appalachia in snake handling and drinking poison. Nowhere are such practices prescribed for
Christians and it seems that doing so flies in the face of the injunction not
to tempt God. What we do see here is a
continuation of the unbelief of the disciples even though they have witnesses
like Mary Magdalene and the two to whom Jesus appeared on the road who have
told them of their encounters with the risen Christ. They were told in advance about the
resurrection and yet they did not believe, it is nothing more than hardness of
heart, like Pharaoh, that could account for such a failure. Afterwards they went out and did all He
commanded them and He worked with them.
What is adequate witness to believe?
It seems unlikely that John is writing to chronological ages
of little children, young men and old men but rather those who are new in the
faith, maturing in the faith and mature in the faith. Wherever we are in the walk of faith we
always need to be recalled to love. We
can grow knowledgeable without becoming more Christ-like and He never allowed
knowledge to overcome love. Knowledge
never became a source of pride nor did it ever become the hallmark of Jesus'
life. He taught with great wisdom, power
and authority like none other we are told, but people were always most
important. The witness of Jesus wasn't
only head knowledge, it was the love of God for His people that is most
important. He has redeemed His people no
less than in the exodus and that is our witness and testimony always.
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