Moses had fled from Egypt, and retired to the land of Midian. “And he sat down by a well.”
“Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.”
There are several interesting incidents in the Scriptures that took place at the side of a well. There Eliezer the faithful servant first met Rebekah, who became the bride of Isaac; there too Jacob met his loved Rachel. And at Sychar’s well the blessed Lord Himself talked with that poor woman of Samaria, and made known to her thirsty soul Himself as the One who gives the living water. Whosoever drinks of this living water will find in himself a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
In his meeting the daughters of Jethro (Reuel) Moses is in a measure a type of Christ, rejected by His brethren, turning to the Gentiles. He was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Isa. 53:33He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3).
Joseph, hated of his brethren, was cast out, too. But Joseph rose to dignity and honor in the land of the Gentiles, and is a picture of the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world, and of His people, the Jewish nation, as well.
Like the One whom he foreshadowed, Moses set aside his own weariness, and rose to meet the needs of these maidens, driven away by the ruthless shepherds.
“And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.” A little kindness goes a long way, and when the daughters of Jethro returned home and told him what had happened, he sent them back to invite Moses into his home. God thus rewarded Moses for his act of kindness. There God provided His servant a home, and a wife in one of the daughters of Jethro. “And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.”
Joseph received Asenath his bride after his exaltation over Egypt (the world), telling of the place of nearness the Church, the bride of Christ, shall share with Him in the coming glory. On the other hand, Moses claimed Zipporah, and she accepted the claim, while he was an outcast. She was content to share his rejection and reproach. The Church is composed of those who have come to Christ in faith and are united to Him through grace. For the present they occupy a place of reproach in this Christ-rejecting world, but look on to that day when they shall share His glory with Him.
Oh that we as the bride of Christ might more often be heard to exclaim: “My Beloved is mine, and I am His,” happy to share His reproach during this “little while.” “If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified tether.” Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17).
ML 06/23/1968