Moses sure did.
Imagine this: you’re tending sheep in the desert, happily married, a father. Then, BOOM! God appears in a burning bush and tells you to go liberate an entire nation from slavery. What do you do? Well, if you're Moses, you remember your promises.
See, before all the burning bush business, Moses had sworn an oath to his father-in-law, Jethro (also known as Reuel), never to return to Egypt without his permission. So, after his divine encounter, Moses' first act wasn't to rush headlong into Pharaoh's court. Nope. He went back to Midian to get Jethro’s blessing. Loyalty, right?
And Jethro, being a wise and understanding man, readily gave his consent. "Go," he essentially said, "do what you must."
But here's where it gets a little more complicated. Moses, naturally, wanted to bring his wife, Zipporah, and their children along for the ride. A understandable desire, right? Family sticks together.
But Jethro raises a very valid point: "Those who are in Egypt are to leave it, and thou desirest to take more thither?" (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews). It seems a bit counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Why bring more people into the very place God is commanding you to liberate people from?
Moses, ever the quick thinker, has an answer ready. He argues, and this is beautiful: "Very soon the slaves held in bondage in Egypt will be redeemed, and they will go forth from the land, and gather at Mount Sinai, and hear the words, 'I am the Lord thy God,' and should my sons not be present there?"
Think about the weight of that statement. He’s not just talking about a physical journey out of Egypt. He's talking about a spiritual journey, a pivotal moment in history when an entire people will encounter God. And he wants his children to be there. He wants them to witness the revelation at Sinai, to be part of that covenant.
Jethro, again showing his wisdom and understanding, recognizes the profoundness of Moses' words. He understands that this isn't just about escaping slavery; it's about witnessing the birth of a nation, the forging of a relationship with God.
So, he grants Moses his blessing, saying, "Go in peace, enter Egypt in peace, and leave the land in peace." A beautiful send-off, filled with hope and a recognition of the incredible journey ahead.
What does this little story, nestled within the larger narrative of the Exodus, tell us? Perhaps it’s about the importance of honoring our commitments, even when faced with divine commands. Or maybe it's about the delicate balance between family obligations and a higher calling. And certainly, it highlights the vital role of family in bearing witness to sacred moments.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What are the "Egypts" in our own lives that we need to leave? And who do we want by our side when we reach our own Mount Sinai?