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Cyclical Rejoicing!

Exodus 18.9

prayer-joined_handsWhen is the last time that you shared a blessing with someone. I mean that you literally sat down with a friend and shared the blessings that God has been showering you with.

That is what happened in Exodus 18 when Moses met with Jethro his father-in-law. Can you imagine this scene with me? These two old men with their long beards are sitting on the ground at the table where they have been dinning. All the while Moses has been recounting what the LORD has been doing in his life lately. Man! A firsthand account of all of those miracles by none other than Moses.

Here sits the entire family around the table recounting God's blessings. The result was that "...Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel...".

Interesting that word, "rejoiced". It means to "rejoin". It has the sense of uniting, intertwining or connecting.

I know that you have been in a situation like this. A friend is weaving a story and you are spellbound as the events unfold. Your mouth is hanging open, your eyes are locked as your imagination runs wild. Your mind is totally wrapped around the tale being told.

Now envision Moses as the storyteller and God as the Author of the tale! Picture Moses as YOUR son-in-law and the details that he is sharing are events that have changed his life and the course of History. I see that gaping mouth and glassy stare.

If you can imagine this scenario then you have a glimpse of how Jethro felt as he heard this news for the first time. This discourse made him jump for joy in the LORD. The event caused action. Jethro couldn’t contain himself. He shouted with joy, “Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Then he made a declaration of Faith, Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

For the first time Jethro was seeing who God really was. He realized that God Jehovah was the only true god. His spiritual eyes were opened and he demonstrated his new faith by making a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Which in turn lead to an invitation to Aaron and all of the elders of Israel to take part in a meal. Which probably lead to more stories. Which lead to more rejoicing. Which lead to more.... Well you get the point.

Rejoice with someone today. You won't regret it. It might make you late for work but maybe you'll get a meal in the deal!

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