Exodus 18:1-3 And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”)
INSIGHT: -In Hebrew stranger is written as ger & it means outsider, dago, foreigner, neophyte, gentile, alien, stranger, immigrant
-Gershom was Moses first born son, whose name means ‘I have been a stranger a foreign land’. The naming criteria then was based on emotions, events, times & seasons.
-Eph 2:11-22, Apostle Paul says that being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel & strangers from the covenant of promise, by Jesus’ blood we were brought near the Father & made into one body in Him.
PRAYER: Thank You Father, for the sacrifice that You made for us, through Your everlasting love. Direct & protect all those who live, work & own property in foreign countries. Free all the oppressed & give them hope. May Your peace & love be felt all over the world & in our hearts as we continously seek Your face. Amen
Leviticus 25:47-49 ‘Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself.
INSIGHT: -Slavery was common in the Old Testament & some Israelites who became poor worked for strangers & visitors. The year of Jubilee was significantly important for it provided freedom for slaves & their families if redemption options proved futile.
-In John 8:32-36, Some Jews were addressing Jesus & said that descendants of Abraham have never been slaves. But Jesus brought in the aspect of slavery to sin & that He would free them forever.
PRAYER: Our Father who at in heaven, we humbly come before You asking for Your forgives & pardon. Have mercy on us & make us free indeed. May Your image & likeness always be evident in our lives. Amen
Psalm 146:8-10 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever— Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
INSIGHT: -The Lord heals both physical & spiritual blindness. He sheds light to those who are morally & spiritually ignorant to see/find divine wisdom. He uplifts those who humble themselves. He loves those who do His holy will & watches over strangers. The Lord sustains & comforts the fatherless, widows, weak & defenceless. He disapproves wickedness & His Kingdom has no end.
PRAYER: Lord our Father, You who lives & reigns forever, we praise You. Your Kingdom is everlasting. Hear our prayers & supplications from the deepest parts of our hearts. Amen
John 10:1-5 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
INSIGHT: -John 10:27-28, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
-The stranger here refers to the deceiver. Jesus is the door by Whom we access eternity. He is the good shepherd Who makes us lie down in green pastures & leads us beside still waters (Ps 23:1-3). The door keeper opens for the shepherd & the sheep enter, for the Father & the Son are one as we are all one in Christ.
PRAYER: Thank You Father, for we rest secure in You, with the assurance that noone can snatch us from Your hand. We give You all the glory & praise. Amen
Matthew 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
INSIGHT: -3 John 1:5, Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers
-John echoes Jesus’ statement that we should not discriminate against one another on basis of race, religion etc, for whatever we do to the least on Christs’ brethren, we do it unto Him & this criteria will be used to judge the nation’s.
SUMMARY: -Gershom, Moses first born son means “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”/when strangers became rich & brethren became their slave, they would be released in the year of Jubilee if all redemption options failed/ the Lord watches over strangers & the oppressed/ Those who follow Christ know His voice & will flee from strangers
PRAYER: Rekindle our love for You & for one another Father, that we may seek Your Kingdom first. Give us a heart of generosity that we may always do good to the least of Your brethren. Forgive us all our sins as we forgive those who offend us. May we hear Your voice & do as You please always through Your mercy. Amen
Our Father who at in heaven, hallowed be Your name…
Blessed Weekend.