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.”
A New Name
“Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law…” Here Moses’ father in-law is called Hobab. We met him back in the Book of Exodus where his name was Jethro (Exodus 3:1). Jethro was given the name Hobab, which in Hebrew means “beloved,” because of his deep love for God and Torah. Jethro was not a young man. Moses was 80 years old and Jethro was his father-in-law. But even though he had spent his life as a “priest of Midian” (Exodus 18:1), leading a community of idolators, he humbly embraced a new faith and a new name. He took on a new identity. He was now “beloved” by God. Have you gone through changes that are worthy of a new name? What name would you choose?
