I speak here of Handel’s wonderful Messiah, and particularly, “For unto Us a Child is Born” from Isaiah 9:4-6:
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As I listened to this magnificent aria once again this evening my attention turned to a contrast in fathers. To more fully appreciate this contrast you might want to go to this link.
What struck me just now is that The Child that is born to us in the context of Isaiah 9 has a number of names, one of which is “Everlasting Father.”
Moses mediated the law to the people of God, and in doing so, took the advice of Jethro. Jethro was a priest of Midian.
In the context of Isaiah 9, Midian is the poster child of the enemies of God’s people – “… for as in the day of Midian’s defeat…” Jethro was also Moses’ father-in-law.
Paul concludes his wrestling match with Law with these words in Romans Chapter 7, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Paul’s deliverer, and our deliverer is This Child that is born to us, “who’s name shall be called… Everlasting Father…”
There’s a big difference between these two kinds of fathers: one of them comes by law, and the other comes by blood.
This season I am particularly rejoicing that His name shall not be called “everlasting father-in-law.”
Surely even back in the “fullness of time” we had had quite enough of that! (Galatians 4:4 & 5)
Very Happy Holidays! :)
Love!
For more reading, see Good-by Jethro
For another rendition of Handel’s “Unto Us a Child is Born” click here
Loving Like God 
About your longer attachment article at the end about Moses and Jethro. .. Wow! Every burned out pastor or striving leader of groups from 10 to 1000 should read this message!! The contrast you made in that article between the advice of Jethro and the command of God is so excellent, and in this post, the contrast between the father-in-law and the everlasting Father born as a child. Thank you for this! Freedom from the bondage of law… definitely a reason to rejoice and sing :-)
It is so easy to go through the Scriptures just reading the ink, and missing the intentionality of God in His communication of Himself through both the inherent teaching of life, and the clear teaching of His Word. I am so glad that His Word became flesh for us to teach those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand His Great hope for us.
Love!