Exodus

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Exodus 4:1-5

It's not hard to imagine these people wanting proof of the divine call Moses would present to them.  Like most of us, Moses is thinking of all that could go wrong, of how hard this could become, of how long it would take and so on.  All these scenarios run through our mind as if the God of all creation could be surprised by some turn of events that would befuddle Him and mess up His plans.  You can almost feel Moses squirming; and we understand that because we begin to squirm thinking about it. 

Moses is given a sign by way of his staff.  Turning his staff to a snake would be a sign to those who doubted.  For Moses it was also assurance that God was with him as he promised in verse 12.  For those in Egypt, the staff was a symbol of authority and a snake was one of the gods they worshiped in lower Egypt.

Exodus 4:6-9

The hand Moses saw when he removed it from his cloak is said to be leprous.  The word used for leprous is more of a category of many skin diseases rather than what we know of as leprosy (Hansen disease).  However, the leprous hand was the first stage of a disease bringing death.  The hand was put back into his cloak and restored immediately.  This was a second sign given should the first not be received as evidence. When in Pharaoh's presence Moses skipped the second sign.

If for some reason, these two signs were not believed, the Lord gave him a third of turning water from the Nile into blood.  This sign was performed before Pharaoh and became the first of the plagues.  This is powerful sign because the Nile was the source of life to them. 

Exodus 4:10-12

A more private concern surfaces from Moses, maybe one he hoped not to mention.  It was as though he were saying 'excuse me for bringing this up' as he said he had never been eloquent.  The 'slow to speech' could be translated 'heavy of tongue' or 'heavy in the mouth'.  It could be a speech impediment, possibly stuttering.  It may also be a lack of confidence in speaking Egyptian after so many years. 

The Lord asked Moses a rhetorical question.  It was obvious that God had given Moses the mouth and speech he had.  There was no defect or fault that God was not aware of.  The Lord would be responsible for the words and speech of Moses.  God doesn't need someone eloquent and trained in speaking but only available and yield. 

Exodus 4:13-17

Again, Moses begged the Lord's pardon and pleaded for the Lord to send someone else.  The Lord's anger burned.  What a frightening thing this must have been for Moses.  This is the first mention of Aaron, his older brother by 3 years.  I love how the Lord said he is already on his way to meet him and he will be glad to see him.  Yet, Aaron isn't assigned this until verse 27.  I find this comforting.  God's work doesn't stop with our stumbling and our inadequacies.  When fear withers our efforts, the Lord has help already on the way.  Moses still had to speak the words to Aaron who would speak to the people.  As God put words in Moses mouth, Moses would put words in Aaron's.  I would imagine this would build Moses' faith.  Moses was to take the staff to perform the signs. 

The excuses, pleading and inadequacies were all addressed.  God encouraged him and gave him the promise of his presence as a well as the divine signs.  It was time to go.  The call of God could not be ignored, no matter how uncomfortable it might seem.  In the end, there is no greater place to be than in the will of the Lord and about His business.

Exodus 4:18-20

Chapter 3 started after 40 years had elapsed in a sentence or two.  Then, all of the chapter 3 and 4:1-17 are at the burning bush on the mountain with God.  When Moses left, he returned to his father in law to let him know is plans.  Even though he was 80 years old, he was under the eldership of his father in law.  It's out of respect he asked permission.  Maybe secretly he wished his father in law would tell him he couldn't go.  But Jethro gave his blessing and it served as a confirmation that this was the Lord's will for his life.

Moses loaded up his family to head to Egypt.  Only Gershom had been previously mentioned, so he now had more than one son.  There is no indication that Zipporah and his sons were ever in Egypt.  After the Exodus we see Zipporah and the sons rejoin Moses (Ex 18:2-5).  It is likely that Zipporah took the sons back to stay with Jethro after the incident of 24-26. 

Exodus 4:21-23

It seems odd the Lord has to remind Moses to perform the signs and use the power that the Lord had given him.  Yet, we are reminded constantly in the scriptures and probably just as often by the Holy Spirit to do the same.  The Lord is the power of our life, how often do we just go after it alone and never flip the switch and use the power?

In verse 21 God states He will harden the heart of Pharaoh.  This is the first of ten references to the hardness of Pharaoh's heart; some referenced as Pharaoh's effort to harden it and others as the work of God.  This is a man taking a stand against the will of God.  There's nothing new in regards to the hardness of a man's heart toward God.  The stiffness of this man's heart became a tool for God to reveal his sovereignty, power and authority.  And, to define Himself through His people and the work of His hand. 

The culmination of the hardness of this man's heart is the death of the firstborn.  Pharaoh paid for the hardness of his heart with the life of his firstborn, all as a preservation of pride and his authority.  God paid for the hardness of heart of all men with the life of His son, all to extend His mercy and grace to a fallen world, that whoever would believe in Him would be saved.

Exodus 4:24-26

The text of this passage doesn't include Moses name, so we don't know for sure who the Lord was angry with.  They were lodging when they encountered the anger of the Lord.  It seems the Lord was angry with Moses concerning Gershom.  There is speculation that he had not been circumcised, therefore he was not bearing the covenant sign of the Israelites.  In one thought, the Egyptians circumcised but didn't completely remove the foreskin.  This Egyptians method was not sufficient. 

This job was to be done by Moses, not Zipporah.  She is saving either Gershom's life or Moses life when she does this.  Touching Moses' feet with this foreskin.  The word 'feet' is a euphemism for genitals.  One thought is that Moses had been circumcised as an Egyptian and did not bear the covenant sign.  Her touching him may have been symbolic of his circumcision, which would have incapacitated him from travel.  Her touching him this way may have been her way of saying she saved his life.  It was as if he were back from the dead to be her bridegroom again. 

This may have been when she took the sons and returned to Jethro, possibly because of Gershom's inability to travel and possibly of hearing the talk of the death of the firstborn sons. 

Exodus 4:27-28

The Lord said in verse 14 that Aaron was already on his way to meet with Moses.  Verse 27 may be the account to that, or the Lord was simply stating it as if it were already happening and as good as fact.  Aaron was briefed on the God-ordained mission. 

Exodus 4:29-31

The elders of the oppressed and beat down had probably heard it all before.  They were probably very skeptical, and for good reason.  At the same time, they were fully aware of the promise handed down to them from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  A day was coming would the Lord would lead them back to the Promised Land.  They heard the Lord's direction; they saw the signs and they believed.  They were convinced the Lord had seen their misery and was now getting they ready for deliverance.  This brought them to worship.

Exodus 5:1-3

The first meeting in Egypt had been with the elders and people.  Now Moses and Aaron wen to Pharaoh.  They stated simply what was required of the Lord, with no fanfare or window dressing.  The people were probably greatly disappointed.  They thought the Lord would deliver them, not they angered Pharaoh and were embarrassed. 

If Pharaoh would not let them go to the wilderness for a few days for a festival, he was not about to let them go under any circumstances.  This shows the hardness of his heart. 

Why would this man obey Yahweh?  It was a valid question.  After all, Pharaoh was seen by the people as a incarnation of the god Horus, the offspring of Isis and Osiris in the lineage of RA.  The Egyptians honored many gods, Yahweh was not among them.   Moses said they owed Him sacrifices to avoid plague and sword.   These are the tools of judgment the Lord uses.  This becomes the basis for the plagues that will come on the Egyptians.   

Exodus 5:4-5

Pharaoh brings the charge against Moses of keeping the people from their work.  This could turn serious in the span of a moment.  If Moses led the people to rebellion, they would have dealt with Moses right then and there.  This could have started a war.  Pharaoh advised them to return to work.

This was the end of the first visit.  No signs were offered.  The request was made and the resistance established.  The Lord would display the extreme hardness of Pharaoh's heart to glorify the work He was about to do in freeing His people. 

Exodus 5:6-14

I believe the Lord had to solidify Moses as the leader of these people.  He had to go through a dark period and trust in the Lord, be an example and prepare to lead these people to the Promised Land.  They, no doubt, second guessed him from the beginning and it never stopped.  Someone was always questioning or doubting his decisions or leadership in general. 

Pharaoh responds to the request as one might anticipate in spite of what's been said.  Did it occur to him that if God was calling His people, he was standing between them?  These people were blessed by God in their oppression, they still grew as a nation.  Yet, Pharaoh believes more oppression is the answer.  He takes away the supply of straw to make them gather their own straw without reducing the quota.  His charge was that of laziness.  He mocked their request to go offer sacrifices as a means to escape work. 

The move also served to divide Moses from his people. 

Exodus 5:15-21

Victor Frankl was a prisoner in the Jewish concentration camps of Nazi Germany.  He told his story of the early days as they attempted to hold only to the things of their old life.  It wasn't long, they came to be a number; stripped of all clothing, jewelry, even their hair.  They were robbed of dignity and modesty when forced to strip and be shaved in a public setting.  They lived on the meagerest rations in the worst of circumstances.  He never thought it possible, but now he agreed with the Fyodor Dostoevski's statement that defined man as a being who can get used to anything.  Victor said he agreed, he couldn't explain how they got used to this but they did. 

The Jews, under the heavy hand of Egypt had gotten used to the oppression.  While they cried out to God, they also resisted change.  It was a comfortable oppression until Moses came along and stirred things up.  Then things got worse.  They were angry at Moses for disturbing their comfortable oppression. 

Exodus 5:22-23

At first this appears to be a little pity party when Moses says, "Why, Lord, why?  But look closer.  Moses was interceding for the people.  He wasn't saying why did you make my life hard or why didn't things go well.  He felt bad for the people.  This is the sign of a leader, a shepherd.  Moses may be a little disappointed in God's time line.  He must have thought this was a one time visit to Pharaoh, show him some signs from God and they would get to leave.  God is doing so much more than just setting them free.  He is redeeming them, revealing Himself by this work and drawing them to Him as He works through Moses.  God's way and timing are perfect.  We rarely agree, even as we know it we are wrong and it doesn't even matter. 

Exodus 6:1-5

Pharaoh was not happy with Moses request.  The slave driver wasn't happy if Pharaoh wasn't happy.  The overseers were beat, they weren't happy.  The people weren't happy because they were given more work.  Moses wasn't happy because he thought God was going to deliver them.  This is sometimes what it looks like when God is doing His greatest work.

The Lord identifies Himself again to Moses, reminding Him that what was playing out had been established long ago.  He had appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shaddai but did not reveal His name, Yahweh, to them.  He established His covenant with them, but they resided there as foreigners only.  It's as if God said Moses was now up to speed on where He was in this plan.  Now, there was work to do.  Moses was His representative for these days and for this work.  The Lord was not at the mercy of a hard-hearted Pharaoh. 

Exodus 6:6-8

The Lord then says, "Therefore" and the "I am" and "I will".  There was no maybe about it.  God wasn't worried about Pharaoh responding properly.  In fact, the Lord said, "I Am" once, then "I will" seven times with a "You will" to speak of them coming to the knowledge of Him.  This is rounded out with an, "I am the Lord" at the end of verse eight to cap the statement. 

These speak to the renewal and fulfillment of the covenant promises (see Gen 26:3; 50:24; Exod 13:5, 11; 33:1; Num 11:12; 14:16; 32:11; Deut 1:8, 35; 6:10, 18, 23).

Exodus 6:9-12

Discouragement and hard labor had robbed the Israelites of their hope.  Their labor had gotten harder at Moses' efforts.  It had become difficult to believe that after all those years, that the Lord really was going to take deliver them from bondage and take them home.  Their discouragement was reflected in Moses.  If the people would not listen, could not believe and get excited about the work of the Lord, how in the world would Pharaoh ever believe when he was so hardhearted?  Moses seemed to think a good orator could pull it off, but not him. 

Exodus 6:13-27

The Lord gave a command to Aaron and Moses.  This has the sense of 'come what may, they had a duty to perform'.  There was no escaping the call.  When following the Lord, there is no escape clause if you get uncomfortable, or you don't understand or agree with Him.  You have faith and follow.  If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

The genealogy places Aaron and Moses among the clans.  It serves to authenticate them for service among the families.  We see they were of the tribe of Levi, and we see his place in the tribes.  This tribe would come to be known as a tribe of priests, but there was plenty of dirty laundry on that family tree.  One of the worst was the wholesale slaughter of the men of Shechem by Simeon and Levi.  Their sister had been defiled by the Shechem and Jacob did nothing about it; so, they took matters into their own hands.

The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.  Amram descended from Koahth,  He married Jochebed who had Moses and Aaron.   What an odd little detail about Amram marrying his aunt.  She was probably his age, but marrying like this would be forbidden by the law. 

Exodus 6:28-30

The text returned to the narrative that was seemingly interrupted by the genealogy.  It returns to Moses objection and inadequacies.  The 'faltering lips' of the NIV are 'uncircumcised lips' in the NKJV.  This is a repeat of 6:12.  Moses asked the Lord again why a great king like Pharaoh would listen to someone like him who couldn't speak well.  Did his Egyptian sound more like Hebrew or vice versa?  Maybe he stuttered.  We just don't know and it doesn't matter.  The point is:

 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Cor 1:27)

If Moses spoke eloquently, his temptation would be to take credit.  Others might look to Moses as being special.  But the Lord takes a week and damaged vessel and fills him up and uses him to glorify Himself. 

©2020 Doug Ford