Much Obliged Indeed

Exodus 2:15b-22

But Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense and watered their flock. When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?” They said, “An Egyptian helped us against the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock.” He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to break bread.” Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage. She bore a son, and he named him Gershom; for he said, “I have been an alien residing in a foreign land.”

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Yes, and when I'm feelin' down and blue
Then all I do is think of you
And all my foolish problems seem to fade away

South city midnight lady
I'm much obliged indeed
You sure have saved this man whose soul was in need
I thought there was no reason
For all these things I do
But the smile that I sent out returned with you

"South City Midnight Lady" by Patrick Simmons recorded by The Doobie Brothers on "The Captain and Me"

Moses has just been run not just out of town but all the way out of Egypt. His very own brother, or a sort, is after him and wants him dead. The Egyptians don't know what to make of him because he killed a soldier. The Israelites don't know what to make of him not just because he saved an Israelite, but because they still know he can have them killed at a whim. Moses is not just a man without a country, he's a man without two countries.

He ends up in Midian, sitting by a well during the hottest part of the day. There he defends the seven daughters of Midian, also called Reuel, against a gang of shepherds who want the water they have drawn for their flocks, and perhaps even more. Leaving Moses at the well, Midian insists he be brought to his tent to break bread. Moses saved his daughters, hospitality only begins to repay the debt in the mind of Midian. He offers his first daughter, Zipporah as a wife. Their first son is Gershom meaning "I have been an alien residing in a foreign land."

Moses was like the man in this Doobie Brothers track, much obliged indeed. He was a man without a country. He had no land to call his own. No people to call his own. He didn't seem to have a plan, but he had a way. Sometimes a way is better than a plan. Moses was alone. He was wanted. His Lord had him, but he did not know his Lord, not yet at least. Then suddenly there was this lady...

Some will speak against an arranged marriage. Some will say he spent a lot of time away from home on this "mission" for "the Lord" who wasn't even his wife's God. Yet, I can imagine a family. Husband and wife and two sons. I can imagine even Moses thinking there was not reason for the things he does. Between the Egyptians and the Israelites he had more than his share of headaches. But in relationship... with his wife... Moses and Zipporah... He even names his first born noting that he was, but is no longer, an alien living in a foreign land.

I thought there was no reason for all these things I do, but the smile that I sent out returned with you. Now there's an image that keeps a man warm on a cold, cold night.