Exodus 4:18-31
August 12, 2024
Moses Returns to Egypt
Moses went back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” So, Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”
At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” So, he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So, he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
When you come across verses like 24-26, and you, like me, ask why would God desire to kill the man He told to go back and lead his people out of bondage. As you read this, another question comes to mind: what does Moses’ wives’ action have to do with removing God's anger? And would it not be nice if God had answered these questions for us?
First, what had God chosen Moses to do, and we say free his people, that was not the man's job; he was to lead them back to God. For 400 years, they had been in Egypt, learning the customs of Egypt and being influenced by the culture and its little gods. He was to be the Lawgiver for Israel, but at this point, he was the Lawbreaker.
There is much we do not know, why he did not circumcise his sons according to the command in Leviticus 12:3, “And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” Many have guessed that I will not do so in that the Scripture does not tell us the reason. But the one who leads must be above reproach. A man whom I invited to teach youth in my home was a man who had a degree from Dallas Theology and was not serving as a pastor at that time, but had built a large part of my house. Why am I telling you this, in that I do not recall anything he taught, but this statement: “You would be wise to never open this book (the Bible) if you are not going to do what it tells you, for you will be held accountable for every word you read.” Moses had been taught by his mother as a small child the ways of God. He would have known this covenant between Abraham and God. It is found in Genesis 17:9-11, “And God said to Abraham, 'As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.”
Application, from this to you and me, in that we have not been called to lead a people out of bondage, not true, that is our call, to as you go make disciples. Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” A word to those who are called to teach and preach, James 3:1, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
A few items, about the God we serve, we like the people of Israel, were chosen, for God to show His power, and it requires us to be obedient. God used a staff to show Pharaoh amazing powers. Moses was just the tool; yes, it was an ordinary shepherd's staff that Moses carried, which God transformed into a powerful instrument. We also see God not being pleased with Moses, and his wife saving his life by circumcising his son.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment