Numbers 10:29 Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” ³⁰ He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.” ³¹ But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. ³² If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.”

Moses asked his brother in law to go with him- Israel to possess their possession. Hobab said no, but Moses refused to take no for an answer. He begged Hobab. Moses who speaks with God face to face asking an heathen to come with Israel to the promised land. He asked Hobab to be his eyes along the path to fulfilling destiny! How can this be? With the pillar of cloud and all the wonderful signs and wonders God is showing him, how could he say that! Pastor Moses what do you mean?

He knows by the help of the Holy Spirit that God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. Moses remembered Jethro’s wise counsel and what great gain it brought to him and Israel by reducing burnout and unnecessary frictions.

In the wilderness, Jethro paid Moses a visit and witness the stress and commotion around the camp I must say for he spoke thus to Moses in Exodus 18:17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. ¹⁹ Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. ²⁰ Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. ²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. ²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” ²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

In the fulfillment of destiny thus, having an allies such as Hobab with the knowledge of the terrain will be a great advantage to Moses and Israel and as such Moses did not relent in convincing Hobab to go with him. Moses sure knows how to get Hobab unboard. Verse 32 of Numbers Moses said to Hobab, “if you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us. This speaks volume about the kind of man and leader Moses was. He was humble enough to learn from Jethro and wise enough to know Hobab as a companion on this journey is great gain. Israel having been in bondage for so long have lost touch with the reality of the world outside and Hobab being a free man all this while travelling far and wide will be a good guide and instructor, an eye for Israel.

There are treasures abounding in the earthen vessels all around you. Everyone has something to bring to the table. We all have a part to play in every and any relationship. Ask for grace to see and wisdom to be able to tap the resources bestowed upon all your relationships from the past, present, intimate, casual, important and seemingly unimportant. There is a lesson to learn from every single interaction. Everything works for your good!

Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!