We pick up the tale after Moses has helped Zipporah and her sisters at the well, driving away the rowdy shepherds. After sharing the story of her father’s miraculous rod – yes, that rod – Zipporah heads home with her sisters, Moses following close behind.
Now, Jethro, Zipporah’s father, a priest of Midian (some traditions even identify him with Reuel), was quite surprised to see his daughters back so early. Usually, they were delayed by the, shall we say, less-than-gentlemanly behavior of the local shepherds. They’d get held up at the watering troughs. But on this day they arrived home quickly.
Imagine Jethro's surprise when he heard their story! They told him about the "wonder-working Egyptian" who had come to their rescue. Jethro's immediate reaction is fascinating. He exclaims, "Mayhap he is one of the descendants of Abraham, from whom issueth blessing for the whole world!" The potential link to Abraham clearly impresses him.
And then, Jethro, being the hospitable man he is, gives his daughters a bit of a scolding. "Why didn't you invite this stranger, who did you such a valuable service, to come into our home?" He then promptly orders them to go and fetch Moses.
Why? Well, Jethro hopes that Moses might just take one of his daughters to wife. A practical reason, perhaps, but also a reflection of Jethro's wisdom in recognizing a good man when he sees one (or, in this case, hears about one!). He understood the importance of chesed, loving-kindness.
It's a beautiful example of how even seemingly small acts of kindness and hospitality can lead to significant events in the unfolding of history. This meeting, spurred by a simple act of helping someone at a well, would eventually lead to Moses marrying Zipporah and becoming part of Jethro's family. And that, of course, is just the beginning of a much larger story. What if the daughters had not returned home quickly? What if Jethro had not sent them back to invite Moses? What unexpected twists of fate are yet to come?