Legacy Lost and Lessons Learned | Exodus 18 Study

Introduction
Moses was a man of God. A friend of God. A prophet unparalleled (Deut. 34:10). He confronted Pharaoh, split the Red Sea, received the Law, and shepherded a nation. His name is invoked in every corner of Scripture, and rightly so.

But for all that spiritual greatness—he left no spiritual heirs.

His wife, Zipporah, faded from the story. His sons, Gershom and Eliezer, vanished into history. His grandson, Jonathan, became a pagan priest, leading Israel into idolatry (Judges 18:30).

How could this happen?

How could a man used so mightily by God leave behind a family that walked away from God?

This final article in our four-part series serves as a sober meditation on legacy. It is a call to vigilance—not only in public ministry, but in private discipleship. It is a warning to pastors, husbands, and fathers who believe that faithfulness in the pulpit automatically translates to fruitfulness in the home.

Moses teaches us otherwise.


Moses the Man vs. Moses the Father
Moses succeeded on the mountaintop, but not in the household.

Zipporah is last mentioned in Exodus 18. His sons are returned to him by Jethro, and they disappear from Scripture entirely—except for one verse in Judges 18, where Jonathan, son of Gershom, son of Moses becomes a hired spiritual mercenary. The legacy of Moses is not continued by his children. His spiritual torch is passed to Joshua, not his sons.

This pattern is repeated in Scripture.

• Eli was a priest of Israel—but failed to restrain his sons (1 Sam. 2:12–17).
• Samuel was a mighty prophet—but his sons took bribes (1 Sam. 8:3).
• David was a man after God’s own heart—but his house was plagued with moral chaos.
• And now, Moses—the friend of God—fades from family influence with the rise of Jonathan the idol priest.

William Gouge: “A man may be mighty in the Scriptures and yet feeble in his own house.”

Legacy is not determined by your public stature—but by your private stewardship.


The Spiritual Cost of an Unequally Yoked Household
Zipporah never appears to have joined Moses spiritually.

• In Exodus 4, she violently circumcises their son and calls Moses “a bridegroom of blood.”
• In Exodus 18, she returns with Jethro and disappears from the story.
• There is no record of her assisting Moses, interceding with him, or discipling their sons.

John MacArthur: “There is no indication that Zipporah ever embraced the God of Israel.”

An unequally yoked marriage can do deep spiritual damage—not just to the spouses, but to the children, the grandchildren, and the witness of the household.

• It weakens the testimony of the believing spouse.
• It introduces confusion into the discipleship of children.
• It often leads to syncretism—an unholy mixture of truth and error.

This is exactly what happened to Moses. His grandson blended Yahweh with paganism and opened a shrine in Dan.

This is what happens when households are not built on spiritual unity.


The Danger of Proximity Without Regeneration
Jonathan bore the name of Moses. He knew the history. He understood the language. He had access to truth. But none of that changed his heart.

Romans 9:6 – “Not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.”

Jonathan is the embodiment of nominal religion—close to truth, but dead inside.
He was circumcised—but unconverted.
He had covenant blood—but no covenant heart.
He bore a godly heritage—but lived a godless life.

This is a warning to every Christian family:

• Your children are not saved because you are.
• Your family is not holy because you attend church.
• Your heritage is not a substitute for holiness.

You can raise a Jonathan while preaching like Moses—if you fail to disciple your household.


What Might Have Been: A Biblical Wife, a Holy Household
Let’s imagine for a moment: what if Moses had a spiritually vibrant wife beside him?

• A woman who loved the covenant.
• A woman who discipled their sons in the fear of the Lord.
• A woman who supported the mission and walked in step with Moses’ calling.

Would things have turned out differently?

We cannot be dogmatic. But we can observe: godly marriages in Scripture produce stronger legacies.

• Aquila and Priscilla: a united front for the gospel (Acts 18).
• Zechariah and Elizabeth: a righteous couple who raised John the Baptist (Luke 1).

Godly women strengthen godly men. Faithful wives shape faithful children.

Matthew Henry: “A pious wife is a man’s second self, his helper in holiness.”

Moses did not have this. And the legacy of his household shows it.


The Burden for Husbands, Fathers, and Pastors
This is not merely a reflection—it is a call to action.

If you are a husband, don’t settle for a spiritually disengaged wife. Shepherd her. Intercede for her. Lead her. And if she refuses the faith, set clear boundaries. Your household must be defined by the gospel—not by compromise.

If you are a father, disciple your children. Every day. Every week. Every year. Do not assume they will “pick it up” along the way. They won’t. The world is discipling them already. You must do more.

If you are a pastor or elder, examine your home. If your household is not “well-managed,” as 1 Timothy 3 requires—step down. Do not wait until your son becomes a Jonathan. Do not sacrifice your integrity on the altar of appearances.

The church needs holy men with holy homes—not professional preachers with broken households.


A Final Warning—and a Final Hope
Moses was faithful—but flawed. His legacy was mighty—but marred. And the result is a sobering paradox:

The greatest man in Israel’s history left behind a line of idolaters.

This is the danger of failing to disciple the home. This is the cost of unequally yoked marriage. This is the silent rot of nominal Christianity.

But here is the hope: the gospel of Jesus Christ not only saves souls—it restores households.

• You can break the cycle.
• You can build a new legacy.
• You can raise children who follow Christ with full hearts.
• You can marry well, disciple deeply, and leave behind faith that endures.

Psalm 145:4 – “One generation shall commend your works to another…”

That’s the legacy worth leaving.


Conclusion
You are not responsible for the choices of your children—but you are responsible to train them.

You are not responsible for the soul of your spouse—but you are responsible to lead them in truth.

You are not guaranteed a faithful legacy—but you are commanded to labor for one.

Let the story of Moses and his forgotten sons be a solemn warning: Greatness in public does not excuse failure in private.

Let the name “Jonathan” echo in your heart—not as an inevitability, but as a call to vigilance.

• Disciple your home.
• Shepherd your wife.
• Preach to your children.
• Guard your legacy.

And when the end comes, may your grandchildren not erect idols in Dan—but altars to the living God.