Children of the Covenant—or Just Children? | Exodus 18 Study

Introduction
Moses was the man of God. The chosen deliverer. The prophet who spoke with Yahweh face to face. If ever there were a man whose children should have walked in covenant blessing, surely it was Moses. And yet—shockingly—his children vanish from the biblical narrative with no legacy of faith. One of them, Gershom, becomes the father of a man who leads Israel into idolatry (Judges 18:30). There is no record of his sons being involved in worship, leadership, or spiritual devotion. They disappear like shadows from the story.

What happened?

The answer is both painful and profoundly relevant: Moses’ sons were not covenant children because they were not born again. They were circumcised, but not converted. And this exposes one of the most dangerous misunderstandings in the modern church: the assumption that religious heritage and external rites guarantee spiritual life.

This article is a polemic against false assurance, a theological refutation of paedobaptism, and a pastoral appeal to every parent who thinks their child is safe simply because they’re “in the church.” The story of Gershom and Eliezer is not just a footnote in Moses’ life—it is a warning to all who confuse proximity with salvation.


Moses’ Sons: Named for Experience, Not for Faith

“She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, ‘I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.’”
—Exodus 2:22

“The name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, ‘The God of my father was my help…’).”
—Exodus 18:4

Moses named his sons based on his personal experience with God—not their future devotion to God. That’s not an indictment, but it sets the stage: the father’s faith did not become the sons’ inheritance.

• Gershom means “sojourner”—a reflection of Moses’ exile.
• Eliezer means “God is my help”—a declaration of Moses’ deliverance.

Both names are testimonies of what God had done for Moses, not what God had done in them. And the silence that follows their brief appearances in Scripture is telling.

They are present in Exodus 18 when Jethro returns Zipporah and the boys to Moses. But after that—nothing.


The Tragic Legacy: Jonathan the Idol Priest (Judges 18:30)

“And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses… and his sons were priests…”
—Judges 18:30 

Most English Bibles insert the name “Manasseh” here, but the Hebrew text shows the name Moses (משה) with a suspended נ (nun) added later—almost certainly by scribes trying to protect the name of Moses from disgrace. The original reading is clear: Jonathan, the grandson of Moses, became a pagan priest in an unauthorized shrine.

He and his descendants led an illegitimate priesthood for generations.

Matthew Henry: “It was a stain upon the family of Moses that his grandson should be a ringleader in idolatry.”

Let that sink in: Moses—the lawgiver, the mediator, the man who saw God’s glory—left behind a lineage that undermined everything he stood for.

And this didn’t happen overnight. It began with a household that was divided, a wife who resisted the covenant, and children who were externally marked but inwardly unchanged.


Circumcision Does Not Save

“Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised… shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
—Genesis 17:14

Moses knew the seriousness of this command. Yet he delayed in circumcising his son—until Zipporah did it in anger (Ex. 4:24–26). This delay nearly cost Moses his life.

But the deeper issue is this: even once circumcised, his sons were not saved. Why?

Because circumcision was a sign, not a substance. It marked out a people externally—it did not regenerate the heart.

Romans 2:28–29 – “No one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly… but a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit…”

The same is true today. Baptism does not regenerate. Church attendance does not save. Christian lineage does not produce new birth.

This is where paedobaptism goes dangerously wrong. It treats the sign of the covenant as a guarantee of inclusion. But Moses’ sons prove otherwise. You can bear the sign—and still be lost.

William Perkins: “They that have the outward seal without the inward grace do profane the ordinance, and deceive their own souls.”

Covenant Legacy Requires Regeneration

“Not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring…”
—Romans 9:7

There is no such thing as inherited salvation. The children of the covenant are not defined by biology, but by new birth.

• Isaac was chosen, not Ishmael.
• Jacob was loved, not Esau.
• Gershom and Eliezer were circumcised—but Jonathan still led Israel into sin.

Parents: this should put a holy fear into your hearts. Don’t assume that baptism, Bible stories, Christian schooling, or conservative values will save your child.

Only Christ can save. Only the Holy Spirit can give life. And only ongoing, deliberate, gospel-centered discipleship will lead your children toward faithfulness.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 – “These words… you shall teach them diligently to your children…”

Moses’ Success—and His Loss
Moses had spiritual greatness. But he left no spiritual heirs. His sons never enter the promised land. His wife never reappears in the narrative. His grandson becomes an idolater. His family disappears into biblical obscurity.

This is not to shame Moses. But it is to warn every man:

• You can be faithful in ministry and falter at home.
• You can proclaim truth in the wilderness and fail to disciple your children.
• You can write the law—and raise a lawbreaker.

Public faithfulness must be matched by private discipline. Your greatest legacy will not be what you accomplish, but what you leave behind.


Pastoral Application: Discipling Covenant Children
This is not a call to despair, but to intentionality. Here’s what every believing parent must remember:

1) Pray for your children’s regeneration. Don’t assume. Ask God to do what only He can do.

2) Call your children to repent and believe. Don’t just teach morality. Preach the gospel.

3) Don’t rely on ritual like Baptism, Christian schooling, catechisms. These are good tools, not saving grace.

4) Disciple actively. Daily Scripture. Regular conversation. Real repentance. Family worship.

5) Model a vibrant walk with Christ. Your children will learn more from your life than your lectures.

Conclusion
Moses’ sons were not covenant children. They were not saved because of who their father was. And they are not alone.

• Cain offered sacrifices—but lacked faith.
• Esau wept—but was not renewed.
• Saul prophesied—but was never converted.
• Judas walked with Christ—but betrayed Him.

This is the tragic story of those who are close to the covenant but never changed by it.

Do not rest until your children know Christ. Not just know about Him—know Him. Not just bear His name—bear His Spirit.

You can preach like Moses and still raise a Jonathan.