Exodus 4
Excuses & Commitments
When God called Moses from the burning bush, he didn't respond with a pledge of allegiance. He, instead, gave a series of excuses.
1. Who am I? (3:11-12)
God's answer to this excuse is not focused on Moses' qualifications, but on God's presence in Moses' life & ministry.
2. Who are you? (3:13-22)
God's answer to this excuse is "I AM WHO I AM." God wants Moses' to tell the people that He is the great God who governed their forefathers. He is present. He will deliver the people to the promised land.
3. Who are they? (4:1-9)
Moses feared that the people would not believe him. God's answers by equipping Moses with 3 signs. First, his rod can become a snake. Second, his hand can become leprous. Both of these signs, instead of being arbitrary, symbolize the plight of the Israelites. They were shepherds (symbolized by the rod), but they were currently overcome by Egypt (symbolized by the snake). God, however, was with them and they would become a rod again. They had been blessed by God (healthy hand), but were currently in exile (leprous). God, however, would restore them. If the elders would not trust Moses after these two signs, judgment would come (as symbolized by the water turning to blood). These signs would also be used to get Pharaoh's attention.
4. I'm not qualified (4:10-12)
Moses says he's never been a capable speaker. This is either a lie (suggested by Acts 7:22) or a reaction to his now older age (he's about 80 at this time). In either case, God's answer is that He is the creator of the mouth and all the senses. Once again, God doesn't talk Moses' up, He teaches Moses to rely on Him.
5. Send someone else (4:13-17)
As a last resort, Moses begs God to simply send someone else for this task. This excuse makes God angry, but he provides Aaron (Moses' brother) to be his voice to Pharaoh. Moses will be as God and Aaron will be as God's prophet.
Having rid himself of all excuses, the journey to his people begins. He receives permission from Jethro to go along with his wife and children. He is warned the Pharaoh's heart will be hardened against Israel to the point where God will return Pharaoh's rejection of Israel (God's first son) with the death of Pharaoh's firstborn son.
Next (4:24-26), we are told a strange story that may seem out of place. God is about to kill Moses. The reason seems to be that Moses had not circumcised his son. Zipporah performs the procedure, but is angry at Moses. The point of this story seems to be that Moses needed to be fully committed to God's law before ministering to God's people. It seems likely that Zipporah turned back and left Moses at this time. This provides an illustration of Jesus' teaching that following God may sometimes result in the loss of family relationships.
Moses & Aaron meet at the mountain of God (Aaron seems to have left Egypt freely or escaped without notice). Upon their reconciliation, they went back to Egypt and the elders of Israel believed and worshiped God.
When God called Moses from the burning bush, he didn't respond with a pledge of allegiance. He, instead, gave a series of excuses.
1. Who am I? (3:11-12)
God's answer to this excuse is not focused on Moses' qualifications, but on God's presence in Moses' life & ministry.
2. Who are you? (3:13-22)
God's answer to this excuse is "I AM WHO I AM." God wants Moses' to tell the people that He is the great God who governed their forefathers. He is present. He will deliver the people to the promised land.
3. Who are they? (4:1-9)
Moses feared that the people would not believe him. God's answers by equipping Moses with 3 signs. First, his rod can become a snake. Second, his hand can become leprous. Both of these signs, instead of being arbitrary, symbolize the plight of the Israelites. They were shepherds (symbolized by the rod), but they were currently overcome by Egypt (symbolized by the snake). God, however, was with them and they would become a rod again. They had been blessed by God (healthy hand), but were currently in exile (leprous). God, however, would restore them. If the elders would not trust Moses after these two signs, judgment would come (as symbolized by the water turning to blood). These signs would also be used to get Pharaoh's attention.
4. I'm not qualified (4:10-12)
Moses says he's never been a capable speaker. This is either a lie (suggested by Acts 7:22) or a reaction to his now older age (he's about 80 at this time). In either case, God's answer is that He is the creator of the mouth and all the senses. Once again, God doesn't talk Moses' up, He teaches Moses to rely on Him.
5. Send someone else (4:13-17)
As a last resort, Moses begs God to simply send someone else for this task. This excuse makes God angry, but he provides Aaron (Moses' brother) to be his voice to Pharaoh. Moses will be as God and Aaron will be as God's prophet.
Having rid himself of all excuses, the journey to his people begins. He receives permission from Jethro to go along with his wife and children. He is warned the Pharaoh's heart will be hardened against Israel to the point where God will return Pharaoh's rejection of Israel (God's first son) with the death of Pharaoh's firstborn son.
Next (4:24-26), we are told a strange story that may seem out of place. God is about to kill Moses. The reason seems to be that Moses had not circumcised his son. Zipporah performs the procedure, but is angry at Moses. The point of this story seems to be that Moses needed to be fully committed to God's law before ministering to God's people. It seems likely that Zipporah turned back and left Moses at this time. This provides an illustration of Jesus' teaching that following God may sometimes result in the loss of family relationships.
Moses & Aaron meet at the mountain of God (Aaron seems to have left Egypt freely or escaped without notice). Upon their reconciliation, they went back to Egypt and the elders of Israel believed and worshiped God.
posted by matthew at 11:38 AM
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