The Choice of Hobab (Numbers 10:29-32)

Sermon preached on Sunday, 25 October, 2009

If someone was to ask you, ‘Was Hobab an important person in the Old Testament?’, how would you answer? Perhaps you would have to say, ‘I don’t know.’ If that is the case, then hopefully by the end of this sermon, you will be able to answer the question in one way or another. Yet even if we don’t know whether or not he was important in himself, we can deduce that this particular incident was sufficiently significant for Moses, the author of this book under the inspiration of God, to include it.

1. Who was Hobab?
Our text tells us that he was the son of Reuel (or Jethro), a Midianite. This means that Hobab was descended from Abraham – Midian was one of the sons of Keturah, the woman that became Abraham’s wife after Sarah died. What is important about his connection to Abraham is that God had promised his friend that his descendants would be blessed if they believed in God. Hobab, by birth, was a man who was very near to the promises of God.

Further, Hobab was the brother of Zipporah, the lady who became the wife of Moses when he fled into the desert after murdering the Egyptian taskmaster who was oppressing the Hebrew slaves so cruelly. Although he had committed this action and was now on the run, Moses knew that God was with his people, despite their circumstances, and had great plans for them. No doubt Moses told Hobab often about the relationship that existed between God and Israel. The point I am making is that Hobab was related by marriage to a child of God.

In addition, Hobab was the son of Jethro, a worshipper of the true God, and a priest who served God in Midian. Jethro is described as rejoicing in the actions of God in Exodus 18:9-10: ‘And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.”’ We are also told in Exodus 18:12 that ‘Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.’ So Hobab was the son of a servant of God.

Hobab was very familiar with the desert. There is the possibility that his name indicates he was a smelter or metalworker (and the Kenites, which is the name given to his descendants, are identified with this trade). In any case, Moses pointed out to Hobab that his natural talents could be of great service to the people of God as they made their way through the desert to the promised land (v. 31).

As we think of these brief details of Hobab’s life, we can see that his situation is very similar to some of ours. Each of us is connected to families in which the blessing of God has been known. Just as Hobab could point to Abraham as a godly ancestor, so you can identify several prominent believers in Christ among your forebears. Further, many of us have converted individuals in our immediate families; perhaps your parents or your in-laws or your cousins trust in Jesus. Maybe, just as Hobab did with Moses, you have observed their lifestyle and listened to their words for forty years. And perhaps like Hobab you find yourself in the place of decision – whether or not you are going to choose the God they serve.

It is also possible that you have also been told that your talents and assets could be of great use to the kingdom of God. Perhaps you are able to speak well, perhaps you have homes in which people could gather in order to discuss the gospel, perhaps you have a trade that would be utilised in some ways for the growth of God’s kingdom. Like Hobab, you have to decide what you are going to do with the talents and resources God, in his providence, has given you.

2. The invitation of Moses (vv. 29-30)
Of course, Moses said more to Hobab. We can summarise his comments in verse 29 by the words information, invitation, involvement and incentive. Let’s explore them a bit more closely.

Information. The place Moses had in mind was the land of Canaan, the country that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was a country different from the wilderness in which they currently were. Moses appealed to the basic desire of humanity of the need of a destination.

Each one of us is on a journey. It began with our birth and we are travelling along the road every day. Whatever our destination is, we are nearer it than ever before. The Bible reminds us that at the end of life for each of us there will be one of two possible destinations – heaven or hell. Whichever destination we choose, God says to us, ‘I will give it to you.’

Christians have a message for those who are unconverted, and it is described in the same words that Moses said to Hobab: ‘We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, “I will give it to you.”’ We say to others, ‘We are on the way to heaven. That is the place to which we are travelling. Heaven is our destination.’

Invitation. Moses had more to say to Hobab than the mere passing on of details of the intended travels of the children of Israel. He also gave to Hobab a personal invitation. We can imagine the two men, friends for forty years, standing at this junction in time. A moment has been reached in which a decision has to be made by Hobab, and Moses knows that if his friend declines, then they will never meet again on earth. It is a moment full of pathos, and no doubt Moses’ every nerve tingled with emotion as he extended this personal invitation to his brother-in-law. There would be desire and anxiety written all over Moses’ face – desire that Hobab will go with them and anxiety that he might not.

In a higher sense, Christians have more to say than the mere information they are journeying towards heaven. They are not the equivalent of travel agents who tell you about destinations to which they have no intention of going themselves. Instead Christians want their contacts to make the same journey and therefore they issue an invitation to others to go along with them. This invitation is personal, emotional, and marked by desire and anxiety. There is no indifference when giving this invitation – they want others to accept it. They address such by name, with knowledge of who they are, and plead with them to come along.

Involvement. Moses also encourages Hobab by assuring him that the other travellers on this journey would all be his friends. On each step he would take to the land of Canaan they would help him along. He would never be left to face life alone again, nor would the Israelites do anything else but good to him. Perhaps Moses was even sensitive to Hobab’s awareness that he belonged to another tribe or was taking into account some concern Hobab may have had because of the judgements of God he had observed during his months with Israel at Sinai.

These words of Moses are a beautiful picture of the mutual joy shared by the travellers to the heavenly city. They include the commitment to accompany one another through the pleasures and the problems that will be encountered on the way. Such an attitude is a wonderful contrast to the type of living that they are asked to leave behind. The broad road, which Jesus said leads to destruction, is a lonely place when trials come. In contrast, the narrow way is the place of companionship, even in its darkest moments.

Incentive. In addition to information about the destination, and an invitation to come along, and the promise of mutual involvement, Moses also gave Hobab a powerful incentive when he said that the Lord has promised good to Israel. The nation knew that God had promised to lead them to the land of plenty where they would dwell securely and enjoy his favour.

Christians have incentives to offer you as well and, like those of Moses, they are connected to the goodness of God. They have incentives for the journey and incentives after the journey is over. Regarding the journey, in addition to the mutual company of one another, they have the incentives of pardon of sin, the peace with and of God, along with the daily prospect of being nearer their destination than ever before. After the journey is over, they have the incentives of resurrection life, heavenly glory and endless happiness. Christians come to others and offer them these incentives.

3. The initial response of Hobab (v. 31)
One thing we can say about Hobab is that he was straightforward and blunt in his words. Yet we can also say that he was a bit hasty. Nevertheless his reasons for refusal are probably duplicated in the experience of others, therefore it should be helpful for us to consider them. He gives two reasons – his property and his people.

Hobab loved the country in which he had lived. It was a place where he had prospered and known pleasure. Further, it was the place where his family lived. He recognised that the request of Moses was asking him to choose to separate from much that he held dear.

One of the common excuses people give for not following Jesus Christ is that his demands interrupt with the life they have made for themselves and their family. They have worked hard and managed to put together a good level of living in which they have many enjoyable pursuits. What can a Christian say to such a person? Two things. First, they have better enjoyments on and after the journey and, secondly, their families can come on the journey as well and receive its benefits.

Moses did something else as well – when Hobab refused the invitation Moses pleaded with his brother-in-law to come. In addition he reminded Hobab of the good things that would be found from God. There the story seems to end, but does it?

4. What happened to Hobab?
In order to get the answer to this question we have to do a little detective work and take into account other biblical references. In Judges 1:16 we are told this: ‘And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad, and they went and settled with the people.’ That verse tells us three things: (1) Hobab’s family reached the promised land; (2) they experienced the miracle of crossing the Jordan; (3) they shared in the victory that the Israelites had over Jericho (the city of palms). No doubt they had experienced other blessings that God gave to the children of Israel as described in the book of Joshua. But how did the family of Hobab get there? I think it is reasonable to say that Hobab went and told them about the offer of Moses and they accepted it, and then they too made the journey to the promised land. And having done so, they experienced that what Moses had promised was true and they were given an inheritance in the land of Canaan.

There is one other passage that I want to mention and it is the reference to the Rechabites in Jeremiah 35. They were a family who heeded the command of an ancestor called Jonathan not to drink wine. Because they were faithful to his request, God blessed them. A more distant ancestor of these people, according to 1 Chronicles 2:55, is Hobab. It was not only his immediate family that were blessed because of his decision, but also his descendants centuries later.

So it looks as if Hobab changed his mind and went with Moses to the land of Canaan. What made him change his mind? While we cannot be certain, I think it is interesting that the last item we read about him personally is the statement of Moses pleading with him to go on the journey. Tears have often prevailed, in God’s providence, where words were failing. Such tears are always appropriate between friends, and even more so when urging such to accept the gospel.

Of course, the point to note is that Hobab changed his mind and made the correct choice. Many of you have refused the gospel in the past, but God has given you the opportunity to change your mind and accept his offer of mercy.