Numbers 10

²⁹ 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.”
³⁰ He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.”
³¹ But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. ³² If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.”
³³ So they set out...




So during my first run through this chapter I got zero.  Then this section about Moses asking Hobab to join them caught my eye.  Mainly I wondered why he would need to ask a human to help lead when he had the cloud to follow.


Well after Googling it I find that there is more written on this short portion of this passage than I can possibly read this morning.  Its fascinating how much people can draw out of the words.


link to full text I found useful --http://gracegems.org/Nicholson/invitation_of_moses_to_hobab.htm


The thoughts I found that were most relatable for me were these:

I. The People of God Are Traveling to the Heavenly Canaan

1. The place itself, Moses and the Israelites were proceeding to the conquest of the promised land. "We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said, 'I will give it to you.'"

 

II. It Is the Duty of Christians to Invite Others to Journey with Them. So Moses acted.

1. Christians have divine authority to invite others to go with them. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 22:17

2. Christians are deeply affected with the consequences of walking in the broad way that leads to destruction.

3. Christians are aware of their own responsibility; for they are the lights of the world, laborers together with God. They must give an account of their stewardship.

4. Christians therefore use all means in their power to save men. They invite again and again — the members of their family, their friends, etc. "Knowing therefore the terrors of the Lord, they persuade men," by personal entreaty — by holy example. They say to the young — to the old, "Come you with us," etc.
 

III. The Reasons Assigned for a Compliance with this Request. These are two:

1. The promise of mutual good. "Come with us, and we will do you good." Christians do good, especially to the household of faith — by encouragement, sympathy, instruction, prayer, distributing to the necessities of saints.

2. The Divine regard for the Church. "The Lord has spoken," etc. Hence the numerous declarations of his love to the Church — his watchful providential care — his exceeding great and precious promises of support here, and glory hereafter.

 

IV. The Manner in Which this Invitation Must Be Accepted. Sinners must see their danger, renounce the world, choose God for their portion, and his people for their companions, etc. etc. "Come with us, and we will do you good."

Lastly, What Answer Will You Give To This Invitation?

So I started with a zero and yet God sparked me to dig into one little section and revealed that many others before me have dug deeply into the same passage and found very important instructions and examples of how were to live as Christians.  That in and of itself is a lesson again to me of how important his words are, like you said a few days back there must be a reason he is sharing these words in every portion of the bible...even the sections that seem very dry and empty on the surface to us.

knut