"Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, "I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel."
By this time the children of Israel had been camping out near Mt. Sinai for about two years whilst the Tabernacle was in the making. They'd completed it and dedicated it and now it was time to move on. Seems from this passage that Hobab had been along for much of that time. There were good things to look forward too and Moses wanted to share them with his brother-in-law. I believe that Moses valued Hobab.
Another time, in Exodus 18, we are told that Jethro, also known as Reuel, Moses' father-in-law, gave Moses some advice. Moses listened and put it into action. He valued his father-in-law's input.
Now here was the son of Reuel. At first he said he wouldn't join them on their journeyings around the wilderness. I wouldn't exactly be thrilled either. But the focus was on the promise of good things to come. God had already done some mighty marvelous acts on the children of Israel's behalf and perhaps that was what stayed Hobab and made him decide to continue with them all. That coupled with Moses' pleading, "Please do not leave us..." (verse 31).
I think this pretty special.
Jump to the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi in the book of Ruth. A most famous story as well. Naomi was entreating her daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth to stay in Moab while she returned to Bethlehem, in her own country. Orpah stayed but Ruth pleaded,
"Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me" (Ruth 1:16, 17).
Ruth valued her mother-in-law and her mother-in-law's God. And when we read the whole story in the book of Ruth, we see how she respected and honored her mother-in-law. Naomi loved her daughter-in-law and must have been exceedingly grateful for her devotion and commitment to stick by her side and that at the cost of personal sacrifice.
These are two notable accounts. I'm sure we would all do well to honor our own parents, for sure, but to honor our in-laws as well...one big happy family.
The key that ties them together was God and His dealings with the children of Israel and even despite their failings, others were attracted to God, His majesty and might and His love. May you all have similar experiences with your own family and that of your in-laws.
~ERC 2017~
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