1 Chronicles 28-29
John 9:24-41
“‘Why then,’ [the Pharisees] asked, ‘did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?’ Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”’ Matthew 19:7-8
Have we ever gone camping with the family before? Some of us who are able to survive camping with our family and not end up in a nuclear meltdown deserve an award. Could we imagine how it was for the Israelites to wander through the wilderness in the book of Exodus and how difficult a marriage must have been within that context?
In Exodus 18, we learn that Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, sent word that “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons” (Exodus 18:6). What happened? Jethro got a report from Moses about the wonderful things that God had done, but the reason Jethro went to Moses was because Zipporah, Moses’s wife, and the children showed up at his door. Many commentators and theologians believe that it was a sign of separation or a potential divorce. Clearly, there was stress within the relationship, and Jethro went to see what was happening.
Jethro observed Moses’s activity and started to understand why Zipporah and the children felt marginalized. Exodus 18:14 tells us, “When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand round you from morning till evening?’” From sunrise to sunset, Moses was occupied with caring for this large community. He was busy with ministry—a good
relationship.
Jethro spoke wisdom into Moses’s life: “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone….select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens….That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you” (Exodus 18:18, 21-22). Moses listened to Jethro and the tension in his relationship with his wife and children was alleviated.
It is important to note that this happened to Moses when he was 80 years old. By that time, He had already been married for almost 40 years. What this reveals is that we can be married for 40 years and still have things to learn on how to improve our marriage. Maybe some of us reading this devotion are in need of some outside counsel to speak truth into our life to help our marriage and family get through something that is taxing our relationships. May we be willing to admit that we need help and find godly counsel to help us through our struggles.
Almighty God, marriage and family relations are not easy. Help me to be brave and admit that I need godly counsel. I surrender my relationships into Your hands. Thank You, Lord.
John 9:24-41
“‘Why then,’ [the Pharisees] asked, ‘did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?’ Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”’ Matthew 19:7-8
Have we ever gone camping with the family before? Some of us who are able to survive camping with our family and not end up in a nuclear meltdown deserve an award. Could we imagine how it was for the Israelites to wander through the wilderness in the book of Exodus and how difficult a marriage must have been within that context?
In Exodus 18, we learn that Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, sent word that “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons” (Exodus 18:6). What happened? Jethro got a report from Moses about the wonderful things that God had done, but the reason Jethro went to Moses was because Zipporah, Moses’s wife, and the children showed up at his door. Many commentators and theologians believe that it was a sign of separation or a potential divorce. Clearly, there was stress within the relationship, and Jethro went to see what was happening.
Jethro observed Moses’s activity and started to understand why Zipporah and the children felt marginalized. Exodus 18:14 tells us, “When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand round you from morning till evening?’” From sunrise to sunset, Moses was occupied with caring for this large community. He was busy with ministry—a good
relationship.
Jethro spoke wisdom into Moses’s life: “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone….select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens….That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you” (Exodus 18:18, 21-22). Moses listened to Jethro and the tension in his relationship with his wife and children was alleviated.
It is important to note that this happened to Moses when he was 80 years old. By that time, He had already been married for almost 40 years. What this reveals is that we can be married for 40 years and still have things to learn on how to improve our marriage. Maybe some of us reading this devotion are in need of some outside counsel to speak truth into our life to help our marriage and family get through something that is taxing our relationships. May we be willing to admit that we need help and find godly counsel to help us through our struggles.
Almighty God, marriage and family relations are not easy. Help me to be brave and admit that I need godly counsel. I surrender my relationships into Your hands. Thank You, Lord.
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