What is the meaning of Exodus 2:18? When the daughters returned • The seven sisters had gone out to water their father’s flock, a daily chore that normally took time and exposed them to harassment (Exodus 2:16–17). • Their swift return signals that something unusual disrupted the routine—Moses’ decisive intervention. • Similar scenes of women at wells meeting a deliverer appear in Scripture, underscoring God’s pattern of providence (Genesis 24:15–20; 29:9–10; John 4:7). to their father Reuel • Reuel—also called Jethro—was “the priest of Midian” (Exodus 3:1), a patriarch who led his family both spiritually and practically. • By coming straight to him, the daughters honored parental authority, a value later codified in the commandment “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). • Reuel’s hospitality and wisdom will soon shape Moses’ life and leadership (Exodus 18:17–24; Numbers 10:29–32). he asked them • The simple question shows an engaged father who notices his children’s patterns. Proverbs 1:8 highlights a father’s instruction; Reuel embodies that role. • Biblical parents consistently inquire and guide, whether Eli counseling Samuel (1 Samuel 3:6) or Zechariah questioning John’s name (Luke 1:60–63). • Reuel’s curiosity sets the stage for testimony: the daughters will bear witness to God’s kindness through a stranger. “Why have you returned so early today?” • Their earlier-than-usual arrival implies relief from opposition. Just moments before, shepherds drove them away until Moses “stood up and came to their rescue” (Exodus 2:17). • The question invites recounting God’s deliverance, much like Joshua’s stone memorial that provoked children to ask, “What do these stones mean to you?” (Joshua 4:21–24). • It foreshadows how God repeatedly surprises His people with accelerated help—Peter’s sudden release from prison left the prayer meeting astonished (Acts 12:13–16). summary Exodus 2:18 captures a pivotal, everyday moment: seven sisters come home unusually early, and their father notices. His simple question opens the door for a testimony of rescue, revealing God’s providence at work through Moses. The verse highlights diligent parenting, respectful children, and the Lord’s surprising interventions—reminding us that even routine events can become stages for His unfolding plan. |
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