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Moses’ father-in-law is known as Reuel,^[1] Hobab,^[2] and Jethro^[3] in the Bible. He is known as the prophet Shuayb for Muslims and the Druze. The Druze consider him to be their ancestor and most important of all the prophets.

Jethro was a priest of Midian a territory thought to be around the Gulf of Aqaba in northwest Arabia and the Sinai Peninsula. Moses worked for Jethro as a shepherd for 40 years. 

After all his trials and adventures Moses finally reaches the Mountain of God where he is reunited with Zipporah his wife, their two sons Gershom and Eliezer and his father-in-law Jethro. Jethro had been looking after his family while he was away.

Jethro may or may not have been a believer in Yahweh but when he hears the Exodus account from Moses he comes to know for sure that the LORD is greater than all the gods and joins the Israelite elders in sacrifice and fellowship. 

The text clearly lays out the steps that brought Jethro into the most intimate fellowship with Israel and the LORD himself. 

• Honour: The Bedouin hold honour at a gut-level intrinsic value. They instinctively respond to people who honour and dishonour them. Moses went out to greet Jethro, bowed down and kissed him. 
• Testimony: Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them.
• Joy: Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel. Such engagement and affirmation from his father-in-law must have meant a lot to Moses after so much opposition from Pharaoh and the Israelites. 
• Praise: Jethro praised the Lord for rescuing Moses and the Israelites from the hand of the Egyptians.
• Assurance: ‘’Know I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.’’^[4]
• Offerings: Jethro then brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God.
• Fellowship: Then Aaron and all the elders came to eat bread with Jethro and Moses in the presence of God. 

Reflection

Might Jethro be the first Bedouin to delight in and have fellowship with the LORD and his people in the Sinai? 

How did this happen? 

How does the LORD treat those who treat Israel arrogantly? 

Prayer

Please pray for leaders within the Bedouin and tourist community to hear and delight in testimonies that illustrate that the LORD is greater than all other gods. 

Please pray for times Christians and Sinai Bedouin may fellowship over meals in such as way that the LORD makes his presence known. He seemed to be doing just that for Jethro and for the disciples on the Emmaus Road when they broke bread together. 

^[1] Exodus 2:18.

^[2] Numbers 10:29, Judges 4:11.

^[3] Exodus 18.

^[4] Exodus 18:11.