The Return of Moses to Egypt

Exodus 4:18–31
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Moses returned to his father-in-law Jethro since he could not depart for Egypt without first returning the flock (Ex. 3:1) and he also wanted Jethro’s blessing on his going. He told Jethro that he wanted to go back to Egypt and see if his family was still alive (v. 18). It is sad to see that he did not tell his father-in-law the truth; for God had told him that his brethren were still alive (Ex. 3:7). This was  certainly a poor testimony to Jethro. Everyone who wanted to kill him was dead (v. 19). Moses took  his wife Zipporah,(Ex. 2:21) and his two sons Gersham (Ex. 2:22) and Eleazar (Ex. 18:4) and they started across the desert (v. 20).

Then God told Moses about his future ministry before Pharaoh (vv. 21-23). During the 40 years Moses had been in Midian it seems that Moses had neglected to obey God’s command (Gen. 17:10) to circumcise one of his sons, and so God had to discipline Moses (perhaps by sickness) to remind him of his obligation (v. 24). It seems that his wife Zipporah circumcised her son so the Lord did not harm Moses (vv. 25-26). How could Moses lead Israel if he was failing to lead his own household in spiritual things? This should be a warning  to all of us that we are not to neglect our own children’s spiritual welfare even in the interests of doing a so called “larger” work for God! The Lord sent Aaron to meet Moses in the desert at Mount Sinai (vv. 27-28). Later they brought together the leaders of Israel, and Aaron told them what the Lord had sent Moses to say and do miracles for the people (vv. 29-30). Everyone believed and bowed down and worshiped the Lord (v. 31).

Application

It is never right for me to do wrong things in order to accomplish right things. In other words the means does not justify the end.