What can we learn from Moses naming his son Eliezer in Exodus 18:4? Text of the Verse “...and the other son was named Eliezer, for he had said, ‘The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.’” – Exodus 18:4 Meaning of the Name • Eliezer = “My God is help” or “God is my helper.” • The name itself is a testimony: Moses publicly anchors his son’s identity in a specific act of divine rescue. Lessons about God’s Character • God hears and acts. Exodus 2:23-25 shows God “heard their groaning” and “remembered His covenant”; Eliezer’s name affirms that hearing turned into action. • God is personal. Moses does not say merely “a god,” but “the God of my father.” The covenant God remains consistent across generations (cf. Exodus 3:6). • God delivers from danger. Psalm 34:17: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears and delivers them from all their troubles.” Eliezer’s naming echoes that deliverance theme. Lessons about Our Response • Memorialize God’s help. Like Samuel’s “Ebenezer” stone (1 Samuel 7:12), Eliezer’s name becomes a living reminder. • Verbal gratitude safeguards against forgetfulness (Deuteronomy 4:9). Naming is one way to rehearse gratitude daily. • Testimony draws others in. Every time Eliezer introduced himself, he proclaimed God’s aid, turning ordinary conversations into witness moments (Psalm 105:1). Lessons for Family and Legacy • Parents shape spiritual memory. Moses weaves the story of rescue into his son’s identity, setting a trajectory of faith for future generations (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Children become evidence of God’s faithfulness. Eliezer’s very existence testifies that Pharaoh’s sword did not prevail, foreshadowing Israel’s survival in later persecutions (Acts 7:19-34). Connection to the Larger Redemption Story • God’s pattern: deliverance → remembrance → mission. Moses is preserved, remembers, then leads Israel; likewise Israel is saved from Egypt, remembers through Passover, then is called to be a light to nations (Isaiah 43:10-11). • Anticipates Christ, our ultimate “help.” Hebrews 13:6 cites Psalm 118:6, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” Eliezer’s name whispers this greater deliverance fulfilled in Jesus. Takeaways to Apply Today • Name and frame life events by God’s help: journal, testify, teach. • Speak of God in the present tense—He is still “my helper,” not just “was.” • View children and daily routines as platforms for declaring God’s faithfulness. |
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