#22 2:21-22 Preparation of the Human Deliverer Part B

Moses’ natural preparation continued through Moses getting married 2:21-22.

21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

There is potential for a servant of the LORD to gain great insight into God’s chosen relationship with His redeemed people through his/her own marriage relationship. Many Bible teachers lay emphasis upon the relationship between Christ and His Church(es) as that of a “husband and wife,” since the Church(es) is spoken of as the bride of Christ. But we do well not to become too dispensational here, since there are a number of Old Testament verses that speak of God’s relationship with Israel in a similar manner. Consider these, as examples.

Isaiah 54:5-

5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

…and Jeremiah 3:14-

14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

Note the underlined portions of these verses. Clearly, God uses the same metaphor (husband/wife) in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The really important truth in this aspect of the life of Moses is simply that through his own marriage, Moses had the opportunity to have an inkling of the nature of the intimacy God desired between Himself and His redeemed people.

Looking at 1 Timothy 3:2, we find that God desires that those under consideration to be bishops in the churches ought to be husbands.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…

In all the remaining years of Moses’ life and service in this world, there can be little doubt that his marriage had a meaningful impact upon his understanding of God’s costly love for His people.