The Greatest Story, part 6

Whether we are obedient or disobedient to the Word of God, those around us are affected. When you choose to use your talents, skills, gifts, and callings to the glory of God and for His purposes, those around you are affected.  Your life and lifestyle change, so too the lives and lifestyles of others around you, especially those in your household, and most especially your spouse.

Consider Zipporah, the wife of Moses.  Zipporah was one of seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian.  Moses, a Hebrew, was raised in the house of Pharaoh in Egypt.  While the Scripture is unclear as to how many years they had been married when Moses had the burning bush experience, it is clear that Moses had been in Midian for 40 years. They had two sons, the older son had been circumcised while the younger one had not.  I can imagine the tough time Zipporah would have had with this Hebrew practice.  Quite possibly, her nagging kept Moses from circumcising their younger son. As is recorded (see Exodus 4:24-26), as they were on their way to Egypt, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.  Zipporah quickly recognized the problem and circumcised the boy herself. Rather than keep on with Moses, she returned to her father's house in Midian.

The obedience of Moses to God cost his wife a lot of misunderstanding, unhappiness, frustration, loneliness, and more. The family was away from Moses, quite possibly for the first time which was a long time, during which they missed all of the plagues brought on the Egyptians, and the miracles God performed for His people.  Their return to Moses was only after the exodus from Egypt and the Israelites had been encamped in the desert for some time (see Exodus 18:5-6).

What has your spouse's obedience to God cost you?  What price are you paying for your spouse's disobedience to God? In the balance, which is the greater price? Will you choose to submit to God's will for your spouse and for yourself? Remember Isaiah 1:19-20. "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; ²⁰ but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”