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© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Exodus 4:18–31
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
During the 1982 war in the Falkland Islands between England and Argentina, the Royal Navy’s 3,500-ton destroyer HMS Sheffield was sunk by a single missile fired from an Argentine fighter jet. It caused some people to wonder if modern surface warships were obsolete, sitting ducks … More
Moses returned to his father-in-law Jethro since he could not depart for Egypt without first returning the flock (Exodus 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 (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,(2:21) and his two sons Gersham (2:22) and Eleazar (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 (Genesis 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.
Exodus 4:18-31 (English Standard Version)
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.
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