How does Exodus 2:20 demonstrate God's provision through hospitality and kindness? The Text in Focus “ ‘So he said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”’ ” (Exodus 2:20) Scene Preview - Moses has fled Egypt, alone and wanted (Exodus 2:15). - He aids Reuel’s daughters at the well, protecting them and watering their flock (Exodus 2:17). - They return home early; their father, Reuel, learns of Moses’ kindness (Exodus 2:18-19). - Verse 20 captures Reuel’s immediate response: extend hospitality. Key Observations • Reuel’s first instinct is generosity, not suspicion. • An invitation to a meal meets Moses’ most basic need—food—after a hot desert trek. • Hospitality becomes the door God uses to settle Moses in Midian, provide family, vocation, and decades of preparation for his calling (Exodus 2:21-22; 3:1). God’s Provision Unfolding Through Hospitality 1. Immediate sustenance - Moses receives water (at the well) and now bread—daily “manna” before the wilderness manna. 2. Safe lodging - A stranger gains shelter in Reuel’s household, reflecting Proverbs 18:10. 3. New family and purpose - The meal leads to ongoing relationship; Moses stays, tends sheep, marries Zipporah (Exodus 2:21). 4. Spiritual formation - Forty quiet years in Midian refine Moses for leadership (Acts 7:29-30). 5. Continuity of redemption plan - God preserves His chosen deliverer; simple kindness keeps the ex-prince alive for Israel’s future exodus. Hospitality—A Repeated Biblical Means of Provision • Genesis 18:1-8 — Abraham’s meal for three visitors precedes the promised son. • 1 Kings 17:9-16 — A widow’s bread for Elijah becomes unending flour and oil. • Matthew 25:35 — “I was a stranger and you invited Me in.” • Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” Kindness That Mirrors the Character of God - God feeds hungry Israel (Exodus 16), Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-8), and now Moses through human hosts. - Proverbs 19:17: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.” - Reuel’s open table becomes a channel for divine blessing, exemplifying Romans 12:13: “Practice hospitality.” Take-Home Encouragements • Simple acts—an extra plate at the table, a cup of water—can intersect with God’s grand redemptive story. • Welcoming the outsider often blesses both host and guest; Moses gains family, Reuel gains a son-in-law and, later, firsthand testimony of Yahweh’s power (Exodus 18:9-12). • In every generation, God still meets needs and advances His purposes through everyday kindness rendered in His name. |
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