Moses’ Story: Going Back to Move Forward

Exodus 4:18-26

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to Come.

MOSES: Israel enslaved. Moses rescued. In Midian. Burning bush. Excuses.

Is there anything in your past that is keeping you from moving forward in your walk with God? Certainly, past sins are forgiven, for we know that if we confess our sins, God is gracious to forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). But along with seeking God’s forgiveness, is there something you need to address and make right? 

Today, we want to consider an event in Moses' life that seems out of the blue, so to speak. When I read this account, I think, ‘What in the world just happened?’ Instead of glossing over this part, let’s take a closer look. I believe there is an important lesson to be learned. 

Right after God answered all of Moses’ excuses at the burning bush, Moses went to his father-in-law and asked for permission to return to Egypt. Moses said, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive” (Ex. 4:18). 

Forty years earlier, Moses had killed an Egyptian and had to flee for his life. Now God assured him that “all the men who were seeking your life are dead” (Ex. 4:19). 

Moses began the long journey back to Egypt with his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons. He “took the staff of God in his hand” (Ex. 4:20). It appears Moses is finally ready to do what God has called him to do. God told Moses: 

Exodus 4:21-23
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.’” 

In this passage, God paints the big picture. There will be plagues in Egypt, and God will “harden” Pharaoh’s heart. The final plague will be the death of the firstborn son.  

Let’s be clear that Pharaoh was not a godly man. He was a brutal dictator overseeing the cruel abuse and oppression of Israel. This oppression had lasted for four hundred years, and it included a previous pharaoh ordering the infanticide of all Israelite males (Ex. 1:16). Second, we will see that Pharaoh hardened his own heart on two occasions (Ex. 8:15, 32). Third, as the plagues continued, he ignored God’s warnings. 

While we see that Pharaoh acted according to his own desires, it is also true that God raised him to leadership to demonstrate God’s sovereign power “that [his] name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” And the word certainly got out! Forty years later, Rahab recalled the event. God’s actions with Pharaoh made those in Jericho tremble as Israel prepared to conquer the city (Josh. 2:9-11).[1]

Now, here’s where I want us to dig deeper into our story. 

Sometime during the journey to Egypt, Moses and his family stopped to spend the night, and “the LORD met him and sought to put [Moses] to death” (Ex. 4:24). Moses may have become very ill. 

So, what is going on here?

Back in Genesis 15:12-14, God made a covenant with Abraham, and the sign of that covenant was the circumcision of all males. Circumcision signified consecration and was a sign that would be evident in every act of conception that brought this nation into being. God also issued a warning: “Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant” (Gen. 17:14). 

As an infant, Moses would have been circumcised on the eighth day, according to Hebrew tradition. But for whatever reason, he had neglected to circumcise his own sons. Moses was to be the leader who fulfilled the covenant, yet he had not obeyed God’s instructions regarding the sign of the covenant. It seems he had told Zipporah about circumcision, so when God sought to put Moses to death, she circumcised their sons and “touched Moses’ feet with [the foreskin]” (Ex. 4:24). Zipporah said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” (Ex. 4:25).

Some say the phrase was derogatory, implying she did not favor the rite but considered it necessary to save her husband’s life.[2] Others interpret Zipporah as saying, “I have delivered you from death, and your return to life makes you my bridegroom a second time, this time my blood bridegroom, a bridegroom acquired through blood.”[3]

Either way, Moses was saved from death by Zipporah’s decisive action.  

Now—back to the question we started with. Is there anything in your past that remains undone and that God wants you to take care of so you can move forward in spiritual health? A person you need to speak with, a debt you need to pay, or seeking forgiveness from someone you wronged? 

Does God want you to go back…so he can move you forward? 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on Exodus 4:18-26: Is there restitution or repentance God is prompting you to pursue?

Talking to God: Ask God to show you clearly if there is something you need to reconcile.

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