Redemption Out Of Egyptian Bondage (1:1-18:27)
Egyptian Bondage (1:1-7:7)
A Deliverer (2:1-7:7)
Preparation Of The Deliverer (2:1-4:31).
MOSES: ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALL
Exodus 4:18-31
Reading:
Songs:
Theme:
INTRODUCTION
A.
B. God’s providence and sovereign control was emphasized in Exodus chapter two, with the raising up of Moses, who was to be the future deliverer of Israel. Also at the end of Exodus chapter two (verses 23 through 25), we learned that the redemption of Israel is rooted in the promises God had made to Abraham. In Exodus, chapter three, God revealed himself to Moses, via the burning bush and informed Moses he was appointed to deliverer the people of Israel. In chapter four, after God had answered all of Moses’ objections, Moses accepted God’s appointment. At the end of Exodus chapter four (versus eighteen through thirty-one), we learn the important results of obedience - life.
Discussion
I. MOSES ACCEPTED GOD’S CALL (4:18-26).
A. And Moses went ... And the LORD said ... (4:18-19).
18 ¶ And Moses <04872> went <03212> (8799) and returned <07725> (8799) to Jethro <03500> his father in law <02859> (8802), and said <0559> (8799) unto him, Let me go <03212> (8799), I pray thee, and return <07725> (8799) unto my brethren <0251> which are in Egypt <04714>, and see <07200> (8799) whether they be yet <05750> alive <02416>. And Jethro <03503> said <0559> (8799) to Moses <04872>, Go <03212> (8798) in peace <07965>. {Jethro: Heb. Jether}
1. Having met all of Moses’ objections to doing the Lord’s work, Moses went to do as God had commanded.
2. Moses first returned to his father in law to explain to him, though vaguely, the situation.
19 And the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) unto Moses <04872> in Midian <04080>, Go <03212> (8798), return <07725> (8798) into Egypt <04714>: for all the men <0582> are dead <04191> (8804) which sought <01245> (8764) thy life <05315>.
3. Though had already promised that he would be with Moses, Moses may have still been a little apprehensive in going, so the Lord gave Moses some further reassurance, by mentioning that the one who sought his life was dead.
a. Just as with Moses, God is aware that at times we too have doubts.
b. He has given us assurance through his word, so that as Moses, we hold tenaciously to the promises he has made us (Joh 20:30-31; 1Jo 5:13-15).
B. Moses took his wife and his sons ... and Moses took the rod of God ... (4:20).
20 And Moses <04872> took <03947> (8799) his wife <0802> and his sons <01121>, and set <07392> (8686) them upon an ass <02543>, and he returned <07725> (8799) to the land <0776> of Egypt <04714>: and Moses <04872> took <03947> (8799) the rod <04294> of God <0430> in his hand <03027>.
1. This is the first mention of Moses having had other children besides Gershom (cp. Eliezer - Exo 18:4).
2. Moses demonstrated his faith in that he took even his family with him (cp. vs 24-25).
a. However, later, he sent them back to his father-in-law Jethro (cp. Exo 18:1-6).
3. In addition to his family, Moses took the tool through which God was going to demonstrate his power before the unbelievers.
a. All too often, Christians are like soldiers going into battle without the armament to protect them.
b. Any time we are going to discuss God we too should take the tool through he demonstrates God’s power - that is the Bible, his written word (Eph 6:10-18).
Further Instructions
C. ... see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart ... (4:21-23).
21 And the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) unto Moses <04872>, When thou goest <03212> (8800) to return <07725> (8800) into Egypt <04714>, see <07200> (8798) that thou do <06213> (8804) all those wonders <04159> before <06440> Pharaoh <06547>, which I have put <07760> (8804) in thine hand <03027>: but I will harden <02388> (8762) his heart <03820>, that he shall not let the people <05971> go <07971> (8762).
1. Even though God had given Moses the tool he needed to do the work, the work was not going to be easy.
a. Often in our going to do the work of the Lord we too are confronted by obstacles.
b. As to the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, the question that should come time mind is concerning freedom of will.
c. God did not directly harden Pharaoh’s heart against obedience to God’s will.
d. God provided the means for Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened, but it was Pharaoh’s decision to react to it the way he did.
22 And thou shalt say <0559> (8804) unto Pharaoh <06547>, Thus saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068>, Israel <03478> is my son <01121>, even my firstborn <01060>:
23 And I say <0559> (8799) unto thee, Let my son <01121> go <07971> (8761), that he may serve <05647> (8799) me: and if thou refuse <03985> (8762) to let him go <07971> (8763), behold, I will slay <02026> (8802) thy son <01121>, even thy firstborn <01060>.
2. Moses was reminded that he would be given by God what to say (cp. 4:14-16).
a. Moses was told to tell Pharaoh, Israel was God’s son and firstborn.
b. Moses was told to tell Pharaoh “Let my son go, that he may serve me.”
(1) In this we realize the reason God frees people from bondage.
(2) It is not so they can then serve themselves bu that they can serve God.
(3) God freed us from bondage to sin that we could then go on to serve him in righteous living.
c. Moses was told to tell Pharaoh, “if thou refuse ... behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn” (v 23; cf Exo 11; 12).
d. In that he was told that though Pharaoh will resist, Moses was to declare, “Thus saith the Lord.”
e. Even today that has not changed for the servants of the Lord in that through God’s written word, his servants are still given what they are to say and they are to say it whether or not the people want to hear (2Ti 4:).
f. There are many who no longer speak as the oracles of God (1Pet 4:11), who no longer say only what it is God has given for them to say.
g. Consequently, many are led from the truth after their own lusts.
Needful Obedience
D. And it came to pass ... that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him (4:24-26).
24 ¶ And it came to pass by the way <01870> in the inn <04411>, that the LORD <03068> met <06298> (8799) him, and sought <01245> (8762) to kill <04191> (8687) him.
1. Along the way, God sought to kill Moses.
a. Some versions insert the name of Moses, however the original language was sufficient to just say "him".
b. Scholars vary as to which of three possible people we could be discussing - Moses, Gershom, or Eliezer.
c. However, it would seem that Moses is the subject of “kill him.”
25 Then Zipporah <06855> took <03947> (8799) a sharp stone <06864>, and cut off <03772> (8799) the foreskin <06190> of her son <01121>, and cast <05060> (8686) it at his feet <07272>, and said <0559> (8799), Surely a bloody <01818> husband <02860> art thou to me. {sharp…: or, knife} {cast…: Heb. made it touch}
2. Even though Moses was ready to go do the Lord work, Moses was reminded that he was not in full compliance with God’s word, for Moses had not yet circumcised his son.
a. Judging from Zipporah’s reaction, it may have been because she hadn’t wanted the circumcision done, that it was earlier done.
b. In anther account, Adam listened to his wife rather than God and the result was sin then too. Because of his sin, death entered into the world (Gen 3:17-19; Rom 5:12).
c. It may seem like a very minor detail that one of Moses' son was not circumcised.
(1) God could have easily overlooked it, but he did not. Moses was wrong and the precedent set.
(2) All of God's commands are important and it should be our desire to obey God in all things.
(3) Our obedience to God should always come first, taking priority over the rest of life.
(4) When it comes to doing as God expects of us, we need to be ready to put aside the desires of everyone else, spouses, friends, co-workers, and religious leaders, in order to live in faithful obedience to God (Mat 10:37; Mar 10:29-30; Luk 14:26).
(5) We are not to have the attitude that it's good to obey God in some things but it's also okay to be disobedient in other things.
d. God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen 17:10-14).
(1) The specifics of the rite were to be through all of Abraham’s descendants (vs 9-10)
(2) At the specific age of eight days, every male (including servants) was to be circumcised (vs 11-12).
(3) Failure to do this action would result in being cut off from God's people (v14).
(4) The severity of being cut-off is realized when you compare passages from Exo 12:15, 19; Lev 7:20, 21, 25, 27.
e. The implication is that Moses and his other son, Gershom, his first born, were circumcised.
(1) Yet Moses’ second child was obviously not circumcised when he was eight days old.
(2) Moses had not obeyed the command of God for circumcision with the second son.
(3) A similar reaction occurred when the angel of the Lord was ready to strike Baalam (Num 22). By this we learn that there were conditions placed upon the "him" that put him in peril of death. As we will see, had he not taken necessary steps he would have died.
26 So he let him go <07503> (8799): then she said <0559> (8804), A bloody <01818> husband <02860> thou art, because of the circumcision <04139>.
f. The result of obedience to this small part of God's covenant was life. To have disobeyed would have been death (cp. Rom 6:23).
(1) The action of Zipporah, to circumcise their son, obviously spared the Moses from certain death.
(2) Having circumcised his son, Moses was then in complete obedience with God and ready to continue with the work of the Lord.
g. It is interesting that as in the church with its leaders, the elders (1Ti 3:1-6), before God allowed Moses to lead the people, God required Moses to show leadership in his own house by setting it in order.
Transition: Moses having accepted God’s call and having fulfilled his obedience to God’s word, was ready to follow God’s lead and to call on the people of Israel.
II. ISRAEL ACCEPTED MOSES’ CALL (4:27-31).
A. ... Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD ... (4:27-28).
27 And the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) to Aaron <0175>, Go <03212> (8798) into the wilderness <04057> to meet <07125> (8800) Moses <04872>. And he went <03212> (8799), and met <06298> (8799) him in the mount <02022> of God <0430>, and kissed <05401> (8799) him.
28 And Moses <04872> told <05046> (8686) Aaron <0175> all the words <01697> of the LORD <03068> who had sent <07971> (8804) him, and all the signs <0226> which he had commanded <06680> (8765) him.
1. Moses, Aaron and the elders of Israel talked, God was not mocked, and the people believed God’s word.
Aaron, The Elders And The Rest Of Israel
B. ... the people believed ... and worshipped ... (4:29-31).
29 And Moses <04872> and Aaron <0175> went <03212> (8799) and gathered together <0622> (8799) all the elders <02205> of the children <01121> of Israel <03478>:
30 And Aaron <0175> spake <01696> (8762) all the words <01697> which the LORD <03068> had spoken <01696> (8765) unto Moses <04872>, and did <06213> (8799) the signs <0226> in the sight <05869> of the people <05971>.
31 And the people <05971> believed <0539> (8686): and when they heard <08085> (8799) that the LORD <03068> had visited <06485> (8804) the children <01121> of Israel <03478>, and that he had looked <07200> (8804) upon their affliction <06040>, then they bowed their heads <06915> (8799) and worshipped <07812> (8691).
1. Moses, Aaron and the elders of Israel talked about God’s word (v 29).
2. Aaron told what the Lord had spoken to Moses and demonstrated God’s having sent them with the message they proclaimed, by working miraculous signs (v 30).
a. Though Aaron worked the miraculous to captivate the attention of those he was teaching, and though the miraculous does not exist for us today, we are not without the incredible power for it is all written about in the Bible.
b. God has confirmed his word, the Bible, and does not year after year have to reconfirm his word with miracles, to establish it as having come from him.
c. We have his confirmation in his written word, the Bible and have no need to see them before our face (cp. Heb 11:1).
d. In speaking of the miracles Jesus worked, John wrote, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Joh 20:30-31).
e. In the account of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man wanted someone from the dead to go to the rich man’s brothers and teach them that they too would not end up in the same place (Luk 16:).
(1) Abraham declared that they had Moses and the prophets, the written word of God.
(2) If they didn’t believe it they would believe even if some did rise from the dead.
(3) In teaching people, they don’t need miracles; they only need God’s word. If they won’t believe it, they would believe with miracles either.
3. As a result the people believed and worshiped God (v 31).
a. This should be the end result of teaching people after God’s word.
b. We too having read the Bible should believe and properly worship God.
Conclusion:
As with Moses, God has given us the tools to go and turn people to him in obedience. Are you will to take the tools and go to the people?
Questions:
What had happened in Egypt while Moses was in Midian (4:18-20)?
How was Pharaoh’s heart hardened and why was it hardened (4:21-24)?
What happened to Moses at the inn and why did it happen (4:25-26)?
Where did Moses and Aaron meet and why did they meet (4:27-28)?
What was the Israelite’s reaction to the message of Moses and Aaron (4:29-31)?
Sources:
Carey Scott, A Letter In Response To A Question About Exodus 4:24
in charity through Christ, Ra ymond Wis man