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Daily Devotion: Exodus 18:7-11

Exodus 18:7-11     "And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." 

It is obvious from the beginning that Moses had a special relationship with his father-in-law. A mutual respect was evident, and faith in God was apparent in them both before Moses returned to Egypt (read chapters 2, 3, and 4 of Exodus). The description of this meeting in our Scriptures today indicates they were still of the same heart and mind toward each other. Without doubt, Jethro had been concerned about his son-in-law.

Moses showed respect for Jethro in the fact that he went out to meet in him rather than waiting for him by his tent. Moses bowed to his father-law and greeted him with a kiss. They asked about how each other had been in the time they were apart. Then they went into the tent and sat down together.

At that point, the conversation turned to the work of the LORD. Notice that Moses did not tell Jethro of what he (Moses had done). He instead testified of the all the things the LORD had done for Israel’s sake. He told Jethro how the LORD had brought them up out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Moses described the troubles that Israel had faced after leaving Egypt and how the LORD had delivered them in every instance. 

Jethro rejoiced for the goodness of God to Moses and to the children of Israel. He blessed (bowed before) the LORD and worshipped. Jethro proclaimed that his trust in the LORD was refreshed in the telling of all that God had done. He saw again that the LORD was great than all the other gods of the land. 

Dear ones, it is a blessing to have people in our lives that love us and are loved by us. It is an even greater blessing to sit down with them and tell them of all the LORD has done for us. The retelling of how He has triumphed gloriously in our lives never gets old. Our confidence in the LORD is refreshed when we rehearse to each other His works and wonders. Surely, the LORD is greater than all gods and deserving of our worship!

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