Exodus 2:16-22 "Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land."
That there was a priest in Midian might seem a strange thing on the surface. However, Midian was a son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2). It is possible that Reuel still held dear the knowledge of the God of Abraham. It is also possible that the term simply signified that he was one of the chief officials (prince) of that area.
Either way, he had flocks that needed watering and seven daughters that saw to the task. They had difficulty when going to the well to water their flocks. Once the daughters had filled the troughs, lazy shepherds came and drove them and their flocks from the well and allowed their own flocks to be watered by the labor of Reuel’s daughters. It was obvious by Reuel’s reaction to their timely return from the well that this problem had been going on for some time. He was surprised that they were already back from watering the flock when usually they had to fill the toughs twice and then be forced to wait while others benefited from their labor before they could see to their father’s flock.
This time, there was a surprise at the well in the person of Moses. Not only did Moses defend them from the lazy shepherds, but he also watered their flock. He asked nothing in return for this. The daughters returned to their father with a well-watered flock and Moses remained by the well.
When Reuel’s daughters related the story of how this supposed Egyptian had helped them at the well, he inquired as to where Moses was. It seems that he was a bit upset by his daughters’ lack of hospitality for one who had aided them. He instructed them to return and bring Moses back with them. He desired that Moses might be fed and sustained as a show of gratitude for what he had done.
Moses found a place where he could be comforted for a season. A life very similar to what his Hebrew brethren had lived as keepers of flocks apparently appealed to him. He was content (willing) to dwell with Reuel and tend the flocks. After having dwelled there for a time, Reuel gave his daughter (Zipporah) to Moses to be his wife. Moses called his first son Gershom whose name meant “refugee.” The name was a testimony to how Moses saw himself as a “stranger in a strange land.”
There are many practical lessons that we might draw from these scriptures. Do the right thing, even if it is for strangers. Do not demand a recompense for doing the right thing, but let the act stand for itself. Receive hospitality as a blessing. Remember that, even though this world is not our final home, we should be content with where God has made us to dwell. We never know where a journey of serving others may lead us.