How does Moses' son's name connect to God's deliverance in Exodus 18:3? The Verse in Focus “...One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, ‘I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.’” (Exodus 18:3) What “Gershom” Means • From the Hebrew ger (“sojourner; alien”) + sham (“there”) • Together: “a sojourner there” or “stranger in a foreign land” How the Name Chronicles God’s Deliverance • Flight from Pharaoh – Exodus 2:15 tells how Moses escaped execution: “Pharaoh tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled...” God preserved his life. • Shelter in Midian – Exodus 2:21-22 records the safe haven where Gershom was born. The child’s very existence testifies that God provided refuge, work, and family for Moses when he had nothing. • Personal reminder – Every time Moses called his son, he was confessing, “God brought me through the danger and gave me a place to live.” • Preview of national redemption – Israel would soon echo Moses’ experience: aliens in Egypt, then divinely rescued (Exodus 6:6; 12:41). Gershom’s name foreshadowed that larger deliverance. • Ongoing biblical theme – God repeatedly identifies His people as “sojourners” whom He protects (Genesis 15:13-14; Leviticus 25:23; Psalm 39:12; Hebrews 11:13). Links to the Second Son • Exodus 18:4 records the name of the younger brother: “Eliezer...‘The God of my father came to my aid and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.’” • Both boys’ names fit together: – Gershom = the circumstance (“I was a stranger”). – Eliezer = the solution (“My God helped and delivered me”). • The two names form a single testimony: God finds the stranger and rescues him. Take-Home Truths • God turns exile into purpose; Moses’ wilderness years became training ground for leadership (Acts 7:29-30). • Remembering past help fuels future faith; a child’s name kept divine rescue front-and-center for Moses. • Believers remain “aliens and strangers on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11), yet the Lord Who saved Moses continues to guide and deliver His people today. |
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