Zipporah:

Zipporah, though an outsider, saved her husband Moses’ life without hesitation. But would you have done the same especially if it wasn’t part of your custom? Zipporah’s act shows courage and faith. Her story resonates through history demonstrating her faith and God’s plan for us.

Zipporah, whose name means bird in Hebrew, was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian. She was the wife of Moses and the mother of their two sons: Gershom, meaning ‘I have been a stranger in a foreign land,’ and Eliezer, meaning ‘The God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.’”

Moses Meets and Marries Zipporah

Moses fled from Pharaoh and arrived at a well in Midian, where he helped the daughters of Jethro by watering their flock after shepherds chased them away.

Moses was invited to eat bread with Jethro when he learned of Moses’ actions.

“When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?” And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.” So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread” (Exodus 2: 18–20).

Moses ends up staying there and marries Zipporah, who bears him a son, Gershom. According to Matthew Henry’s Commentary, the daughters of Reuel were humble and very industrious since they drew water for their father (Exodus 2:16). They were modest. They would not ask a strange Egyptian to come home with them till their father sent for him. Modest is the ornament of woman. I think humbleness and modesty need to come back in this day and age. Jethro’s daughters were obedient because their father invited Moses to their home, not the women.

Zipporah Saves Moses

In Exodus 4, Moses asks his father-in-law, Jethro, ‘Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive’ (v.18). Jethro agrees, and Moses sets off for Egypt with his wife and sons, placing them on a donkey.

“And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!” — because of the circumcision” (Exodus 4:24–26). Zipporah’s quick thinking saved Moses’ life by performing the circumcision, an act that was typically Moses’ responsibility but not her custom. Recognizing the danger Moses was in, she acted decisively and averted the crisis.

Can you imagine what Zipporah must have felt when out of necessity had to circumcise her son because Moses couldn’t do it?

Moses’ Reunion with His Family

At some point, Moses must have sent his family back to his father-in-law, as Exodus 18:2–6 states: “Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, Moses likely sent Zipporah back after the incident at the inn, where her aversion to circumcising their son nearly cost Moses his life. While the exact timing is not mentioned in the Bible, this interpretation suggests an earlier separation.

Although Zipporah wasn’t present during Moses’ most pivotal moments, she played a vital role by staying home and caring for their two sons. By doing this, she enabled Moses to fulfill his calling to God.

Conclusion

Though there is little about Zipporah in the Bible, her story impacts us even today. Her courage, quick thinking, and willingness to do something that is not part of her custom not only saved the life of her husband, Moses but also played a role in God’s plan. We need to be like Zipporah with her courage, quick thinking, and willingness to do something outside the norm when we face challenging obstacles. Her actions show us that God works through unexpected people and circumstances to do His will and that we should trust in His plan no matter how hard it is.

© 2024 Lisa Jane