We tend to think that circumstances make us happy. And if that be the case then the only way we can be happy in God is if he breaks into our reality and shapes our circumstances into joyful occurrences. My brothers and sisters in Honduras will need to stop praying “Gracias del Senior” because they live in oppressive poverty. How can they be thankful? How can they be happy? Don’t they know that their dirty clothes and rampant Malaria steal their joy? Don’t they understand that lack of access to a clean hospital and clean drinking water should hover over them like a dark cloud? But my brothers and sisters in Honduras pray often and loudly “Gracias del Senior”. O to be sure, they have their dark moments, when the poverty seems too heavy; when the health care system seems available only to the wealthy; when yet another hurricane ravages their shanty homes. So, what are they thankful for? They are thankful for the dirty clothes. They are thankful for the little church that they gather to praise God in. They are thankful for their jobs even though the pay doesn’t seem to match the need. What are you thankful for?
Exodus 18:1-12 is about celebrating God. But first we have a reunion. We are told that Jethro, the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses heard that Yahweh had delivered the Israelites. We are also told that Zepporah, the wife of Moses, and their two sons Gershom and Eliezer, have been taken in hand by Jethro. For whatever reason, Moses left his wife and children behind in the care of Jethro. Again Gershom means “I was a stranger” and probably refers to Moses’ life in Egypt before escaping to Media. The second son is mentioned here for the first time in the narrative and his name means “God is my help”. The name of his sons tells Moses’ story. He was a stranger in Egypt, but God rescued him. Even the name of the sons is a proof of the presence of Yahweh.
Jethro sends word that they have arrived and Moses goes out to meet them. Interestingly, we are only told of his meeting with Jethro. It has been months since he has seen his wife and sons, and we only see him bowing before and kissing Jethro. Our western sensibilities react here. What about your wife Moses? But eastern custom demanded this greeting of respect. Jethro is not only the leader of this family, he is a priest of Midian. They ask each other of their welfare and the word “welfare” here is shalom. The Hebrew word shalom means so much more than peace. It is well being; it is a life lived in harmony with Yahweh. It was also the common greeting. Shalom. How is your peace? Not a bad greeting. They then go into a tent to have a private sit down. And here Moses tells Jethro the whole story of Yahweh’s deliverance and then Jethro bursts out rejoicing over God’s goodness. But wait a minute. God rescued them from the powerful and oppressive hand of Egypt. But why did he allow them to be grabbed by that hand in the first place? Moses also told about the weariness or hardship they face on the journey. And who led them into that difficult land; who set them out on that hard and weary journey? Wasn’t it Yahweh? And yet Jethro said, “Blessed by Yahweh” which was a phrase that was basically used to mean, “I am going to tell you why you should praise and adore God now.” God delivered, or snatched the people out of the hands of the Egyptians. And then Jethro proclaimed, “I now understand that God is greater than the gods.” I think he is saying that what he has always believed is confirmed in this account. The Egyptian gods rebelled against Yahweh by attacking his people; by arrogantly mistreating his chosen children. And then Yahweh pointed out their mistake.
Then, as the priest, Jethro offers first a whole burnt offering which was completely burnt up representing the soul’s ascent to the presence of God during worship. And then they do the sacrifice meal thing. They have a feast before the face of God. They burn the meat, and then all the leaders representing the people of Israel gather and feast it up. This meal is representative of what our communion was intended to be. God has snatched us out of danger and we enjoy a celebratory feast in his presence.
And as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we can ask, “What is there to celebrate?” Has God manipulated the circumstances so that we can be happy? But this feast is not about our present circumstances, it is a celebration of what God has already done in Jesus Christ. And we have much to be thankful for here. No matter our circumstances, God has already snatched us out of death. God has already washed us clean and brought us into relationship with Him. Is that enough? Shalom. Walter