Verse: Exodus 2:21-22
Theme: Divine Providence in Exile, Building New Foundations, and Finding Identity in Foreign Places
“Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. She bore a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he said, ‘I am a resident alien in a foreign land.'”
— Exodus 2:21-22, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“Moses consented to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as his wife. She gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom (which sounds like the Hebrew for ‘a stranger there’), for he said, ‘I have become a stranger in a foreign land.'”
— Exodus 2:21-22, New Living Translation (NLT)
“Moses was happy to live with Jethro, and Jethro gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses to be his wife. Zipporah gave birth to a son. Moses named him Gershom, because Moses was a stranger in a land that was not his own.”
— Exodus 2:21-22, New Century Version (NCV)
Meaning of Exodus 2:21-22
Here’s something you don’t see every day in the ancient world: a fugitive prince becoming a shepherd son-in-law in the span of what seems like a few weeks. Moses went from Egyptian royalty to Midianite family man faster than most people change careers these days.
But there’s something deeply beautiful about how this plays out. Reuel (also called Jethro) doesn’t just offer Moses temporary shelter; he essentially adopts him into the family. Think about that for a minute. This isn’t charity; it’s genuine acceptance of someone who literally had nothing to offer except a willingness to defend vulnerable women at a well.
Moses “was content” to stay with this family. That Hebrew word suggests more than just being okay with the arrangement; it implies satisfaction, even happiness. After the chaos and betrayal in Egypt, Moses finds something he’d probably never experienced: genuine belonging based on character rather than status.
The marriage to Zipporah represents more than romantic love; it’s Moses putting down roots in exile, creating a new identity when his old one got completely shattered. Sometimes God has to strip away everything we think defines us before He can show us who we really are.
That name “Gershom” is loaded with meaning. It literally means “a stranger there,” and Moses gives this explanation: “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.” But here’s the thing: wasn’t Moses always kind of a foreigner? Hebrew by birth, Egyptian by upbringing, now Midianite by marriage. Maybe being a stranger everywhere was actually preparing him to belong to God in a way that transcended any earthly nationality.
Popular Words of Wisdom from Exodus 2:21-22
“Home is not where you are born; home is where all your attempts to escape cease.”
— Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian Writer
“A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.”
— George William Curtis, American Writer
“The wise find pleasure in water, and the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived.”
— Confucius, Chinese Philosopher
“Marriage is not a noun; it’s a verb. It isn’t something you get. It’s something you do. It’s the way you love your partner every day.”
— Barbara De Angelis, Relationship Expert
“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
— Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister
Explaining the Context of Exodus 2:21-22
This passage picks up immediately after Moses’ dramatic rescue of Jethro’s daughters at the well. The guy who just fled Egypt as a wanted criminal has suddenly become the local hero who drove off aggressive shepherds and helped water their flocks.
Jethro’s decision to offer Moses permanent residence and his daughter’s hand in marriage shows the kind of character assessment that happened quickly in ancient societies. Moses had demonstrated courage, righteousness, and practical capability; exactly the qualities a father would want in a son-in-law in that harsh environment.
The marriage to Zipporah represents Moses’s full integration into Midianite society. This isn’t just a romantic relationship; it’s a complete identity shift from Egyptian prince to desert tribesman, with all the cultural adaptation that entailed.
The birth of Gershom and Moses’ explanation of the name reveals his psychological state during this transition. Despite finding love, family, and acceptance, Moses still feels the displacement of his exile from Egypt.
This period represents the beginning of Moses’ forty-year preparation in the wilderness, during which he’ll learn the skills, patience, and humility necessary for leading Israel through their own wilderness journey.
Explaining the Key Parts of Exodus 2:21-22
“Moses agreed to live with the man”
The Hebrew suggests Moses was genuinely willing, even eager, to accept this arrangement. After the trauma of fleeing Egypt, finding a family willing to embrace him must have felt like divine provision.
This decision shows Moses’ adaptability and humility; he’s willing to trade his Egyptian identity for genuine belonging with people who value his character over his credentials.
“and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage”
Jethro’s offer of his daughter in marriage represents complete acceptance into the family and community. This wasn’t just a business arrangement but recognition of Moses’ worthiness as a potential husband and family member.
The marriage bonds Moses to Midianite culture in the deepest possible way, ensuring his commitment to this new life and identity.
“She gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom”
The birth of a son establishes Moses’ permanent roots in Midian and his role as father and family man, roles he’d never experienced in his privileged but isolated Egyptian upbringing.
Moses’s choice to name the child himself indicates his full participation in fatherhood and his desire to mark this significant transition in his life.
“saying, ‘I have become a foreigner in a foreign land'”
Moses’ explanation reveals his continued sense of displacement despite finding love and acceptance. He’s physically settled but emotionally still processing the magnitude of his life change.
The name “Gershom” becomes a permanent reminder of Moses’ exile status, but also of God’s provision for strangers in strange lands.
Lessons to Learn from Exodus 2:21-22
1. God Provides Family and Belonging Even in Places of Exile
Moses’ integration into Jethro’s family shows how God can create new foundations for identity and purpose when our original plans get derailed by circumstances.
2. True Character Reveals Itself in Crisis and Gets Recognized by Wise People
Jethro’s decision to offer Moses permanent family membership was based on observing his actions under pressure, not his credentials or background.
3. Starting Over Completely Can Lead to Deeper Fulfillment Than Continuing in Comfort
Moses’ simple life as a shepherd and family man in Midian taught him lessons about leadership and dependence on God that palace life never could have provided.
4. Our Sense of Displacement Often Persists Even When We Find New Belonging
Moses’ naming of Gershom shows that feeling like a stranger can coexist with genuine love and acceptance, and that’s okay; it keeps us dependent on God.
5. Divine Preparation Often Looks Like Ordinary Life With Extraordinary Lessons
The forty years Moses spent as husband, father, and shepherd were actually intensive training for leading a nation through the wilderness.
Related Bible Verses
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
— Hebrews 13:2, English Standard Version (ESV)
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'”
— Ruth 1:16, International Standard Version (ISV)
“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”
— Deuteronomy 10:18, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
— Colossians 3:12, New International Version (NIV)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
— Proverbs 4:23, New Living Translation (NLT)
How This Verse Points to Christ
Exodus 2:21-22 points to Christ through Moses’ experience of finding family and identity among people who weren’t his blood relatives, paralleling how Christ creates spiritual family bonds that transcend biological relationships.
Moses’ marriage to Zipporah, a Midianite woman, foreshadows how Christ would unite people from all nations into one spiritual family, breaking down barriers between different ethnic and cultural groups.
The provision of family and belonging in exile mirrors how Christ provides a spiritual home and identity for all who feel like strangers in this world, offering permanent belonging in God’s family.
Moses’s willingness to embrace a completely new identity and culture points to the radical transformation Christ offers, where old things pass away and all things become new.
The name “Gershom,” meaning “stranger in a strange land,” echoes how all believers are ultimately citizens of heaven living as foreigners on earth, finding their true home in Christ.
Moses’s contentment in his new life despite displacement shows how Christ satisfies the deepest longings for belonging and purpose, even when our circumstances seem less than ideal.
Closing Reflection
You know what strikes me most about this whole arrangement? How quickly Moses went from being a guy with absolutely nothing to being someone’s son-in-law, husband, and father. One day, he’s a fugitive sitting by a well with no prospects, the next he’s got a father-in-law who thinks highly enough of him to hand over his daughter and a place in the family business.
That’s the kind of turnaround that only happens when God’s moving behind the scenes. Jethro didn’t just see a homeless refugee when he looked at Moses; he saw character, integrity, someone worth investing in. There’s something beautiful about how quickly genuine goodness gets recognized by people who know what to look for.
But Moses naming his son “Gershom,” essentially “I’m a stranger here,” reveals something pretty profound about human nature. Even when we find love, acceptance, and a new life, part of us still carries the memory of displacement. Moses had found a wonderful family and meaningful work, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t originally supposed to be his story.
Here’s what I think Moses didn’t realize yet: being a stranger everywhere was actually perfect preparation for leading a nation of people who’d been strangers in Egypt and were about to become wanderers in the wilderness. God was giving him the exact experience he’d need to understand and relate to Israel’s journey.
Sometimes the detours become the main road. Moses thought his life had been completely derailed, but God was actually putting him on the right track for the first time. Those forty years of marriage, fatherhood, and sheep-herding weren’t killing time; they were building the character foundation for one of history’s most challenging leadership assignments.
The refugee by the well became the cornerstone of a family. Sometimes that’s how God works; He gives us what we need before we even know we need it.
Say This Prayer
Lord of All Nations,
Like Moses, we sometimes find ourselves in places we never planned to be, among people we never expected to meet. Help us see Your hand in the unexpected turns our lives take.
When we feel displaced and uncertain about our identity, remind us that You can create family and belonging in the most unlikely circumstances. Give us Moses’ willingness to embrace new chapters instead of clinging to old ones that no longer serve Your purposes.
Help us recognize the Jethros in our lives; people who see our potential when we feel like failures, who offer us belonging when we feel like strangers. Give us wisdom to accept their kindness and invest in the relationships You provide.
When we feel like foreigners in foreign lands, whether literally or emotionally, help us trust that You’re preparing us for something we can’t yet see. Use our seasons of displacement to teach us empathy for others who feel lost and displaced.
Thank You for Christ, who left His heavenly home to become a stranger in our world, creating a way for all of us strangers to find our true home in You.
Give us contentment in the places You’ve put us while we wait for the fuller revelation of Your plans.
In the name of Jesus, our true home, Amen.