In a study on Exodus one of the scriptures concerning Midian led to this study.....where a more in-depth search through the scriptures gives us clues to just who Midian represents in types for it has bearing on just who we battle in the end of days. What and who are Midian and the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, types for? What is God telling us when He mentions Midian and what is the example for our future given in their examples. Midian's first Biblical mention….
Genesis 25:1-2 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medah, and MIDIAN, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
Although Midian was a son of Abraham he, as his siblings and half brother Ishmael were not as Isaac for only through "Isaac shall thy seed be called." [Gen.21:12]
It is said that Midian "strife," was "progenitor of the Midianites, or Arabians, dwelling principally in the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. The "land of Midan," the place to which Moses fled after killing the Egyptian, was probably the peninsula of Sinai. ~ Smith's Bible Dictionary
As we know, God uses people to bring about his plan and this applies to the Midianties (of the past and future).
Genesis 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchant men; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
As Judas sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver so did the Midianites sell Joseph, a type for Christ, for twenty pieces. Why the difference?Thirty denotes to "a higher degree the perfection of Divine order, as marking the right moment." Twenty means, "twenty, being one short of twenty-one, would signify expectancy."
I found that most interesting. Through one amount God tells us what to expect and through the other….the right moment, when the expected event happens.
37:36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's and captain of the guard.
If you are familiar with the story of "B'rer Rabbit" then you'll know that this was throwing Joseph into the briar patch....just where he needed to be, where God placed him. This Pharaoh was one of the Hyksos or Shepherd Kings....he was not Egyptian (racially). God placed Joseph in that position and from there Joseph saved his people during the famine….just as the man child, elect, will in the end of days.
Amos 8:11 Behold the days come saith the Lord God, that I will send a FAMINE in the land, NOT A FAMINE OF BREAD, nor a thirst for water, but of HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD:
Also, Joseph married a daughter of Potiphar and their children were Manassah and Ephraim. They are two of the twelve tribes and many believe they represent England and America today.
So there we have a hint of just who those of Midian are. They are not of the chosen but they will be used in the end of days, or are being used now, to bring about God's plan. They will "lift" the man child "out of the pit" and place him in Egypt (the world) where he can best help God's children by feeding them, feeding them the Word of God during the time of famine. The Midianites do it for money but nevertheless...the job will be done, or….is being done.
Numbers 31:2 "Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people."
This is another hint of who the Midianites represent. God ordered Moses (a type of the man child) to avenge God's children of those who oppressed them....the Midianites. In the future sense this is telling us of the end of days….the last battle for then…."shalt thou be gathered unto thy people." It will be against those the Midanites are types for.
31:7-8 And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.Five kings were slain. (Evi = Desire, Rekem = variegation, Zur = a rock, Hur = hole, Reba = four) Where else do we read of five kings being slain..……Revelation 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Five are fallen (five kings). Balaam (one is). Satan (the other not yet come).
Who are these kings, the ones the kings of Midian are a type for? They will be supernatural kings….fallen angels in Satan's army. They will "receive power as kings one hour with the beast." [Rev.17:12] That "hour" is Satan's "hour of temptation." They are the "kings of Persia."
Christ speaking to Daniel…..
Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia (Satan) withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
31:14-15 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. And Moses said unto them, "Have ye saved all the women alive?
31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.
What was the trespass? That is another study for another time but could well relate to the end of days…perhaps a type for how the Midianites will cause many of God's children to err.
31:17-18 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Meaning….all those that didn't fall for Satan's deception will live. All those that didn't partake of the idolatry in the apostasy of the great tribulation. The others, even the "little ones" that are male will die.
The book of Judges also mentions Midian…
Judges 6:1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
We must recognize….this is all of the children of Israel that will be delivered (or have already been) and that includes the ten northern tribes….(the house of Israel) CHRISTIANS! Not simply Jews (the house of Judah).
So, if the kings of Midian are types for the kings of Persian…in heaven, then the land of Midian is the world for The king of Persia is Satan and he rules this world….for a time……and the people of Midian are those that follow Satan or….don't follow Christ. We are told God will use them to sell Joseph (the man child) to Pharaoh (Satan). They are those we battle now and will until the return of Christ.
Satan's crew control the world through four hidden dynasties….Finance, Education, Politics and Religion. Those are the realms of the Midianites. That is how they "sell" the man child (the elect) to Satan. Lies, deception, usary….in all four fields.
Understanding this…who those of Midian are, why would Moses marry someone from there? What is this telling us? Who is his father-in-law, the priest of Midian? Those questions can now be answered in the thread....." ~ Exodus Of The Past And The Future ~ " as the clues given here enable us to understand a deeper level of God's Word.