Everyone But You

Everyone But You

Exodos 4: ²⁴ And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. ²⁵ Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” ²⁶ So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

 

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After leaving Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, they encountered the preincarnate JESUS. HE was about to kill Moses, whom HE called to bring the people out of Egypt. Zipporah performed a circumcision on Eliezer. JESUS let Moses go.

 

My Observations:

• GOD would not allow Moses to go to Egypt unless Gershom and Eliezer were circumcised.
• GOD told Abram, also known as Abraham, to be circumcised and from then on, every male was to be circumcised on the eight day.
• GOD would not allow Moses to be HIS leader unless he was serious about following what HE specified.

 

When everyone else could get away with ignoring what GOD said, Moses could not. When Moses said “yes” to GOD’s calling, he also said “Yes” to following GOD the way HE wanted. There were many men who grew up uncircumcised around Moses, but he had to follow what GOD told Abram to promise.

 

Zipporah may not have been privy to how serious GOD was about the covenant of circumcision. What seemed insignificant to her was extremely important to GOD. You would think that GOD would have simply told Moses to perform the circumcision like HE told Abram.

 

He must have circumcised Gershom, but for some reason Eliezer was not. This problem had to be rectified by Zipporah, who may have been against the circumcision. She reluctantly performed the delicate operation and protested. GOD did not harm Moses and it shows that HE is serious about HIS leaders. HE also intervenes.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about this circumcision incident?
• Has GOD said for you to do something that you may have mislabeled as insignificant?
• Do you say, “Everyone else can do stuff, why can’t I?” when GOD is trying to make you HIS leader?

Nation Called to Serve GOD

Nation Called to Serve GOD

Exodos 4: ²¹ And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. ²² Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. ²³ So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

 

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After Moses accepted his calling, he went to his father-in-law to leave peacefully. Moses left his contentment to do what GOD called him to do. GOD warned Moses by telling him this would not be easy, but Moses was supposed to be obedient in doing all the wonders GOD had in store. GOD then calls Israel HIS “son.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD referred to Israel as HIS “son” for the first time, meaning nation, not JESUS.
• GOD wanted the nation of Israel to serve HIM after being called out of Egypt.
• GOD used the decree of the Pharaoh by saying “I will kill your son.”

 

When GOD says HE will kill someone, it’s not good. If you substitute the word “son” for “nation” and reread the scripture, you will see that GOD was about to take Egypt out of power. Their rule was far reaching and cruel. There is also a time that is too late with GOD. Pharaoh and the Egyptian beliefs had already reached the point of no return. GOD would harden their hearts. This is scary.

 

GOD also used the decree “I will kill your son” as Egypt’s own words used against them. One Pharaoh told the children of Israel to kill their sons by throwing them into the river. GOD would eventually perform a plague that would involve the river turning into blood. GOD was preparing Moses that even though miracles would be performed, Pharaoh would not admit that GOD is GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warnings about Pharaoh?
• Do you think GOD doesn’t see your suffering or the hearts of those who have been cruel?
• In the middle of uncertainty and cruelness, will you remain obedient to GOD to see HIS deliverance?

Peaceful Acceptance of the Calling

Peaceful Acceptance of the Calling

Exodus 4: ¹⁸ So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.”

And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

 

¹⁹ Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” ²⁰ Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

 

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GOD appeared to Moses in the form of fire inside of a bush. GOD showed Moses HIS power by turning his rod into a snake. HE also turned Moses’s hand leprous and healed it. Moses declined the calling, BUT GOD gave him an alternative to his thinking. HE would send Aaron with him. Moses went to his father-in-law and told him about he was leaving.

 

My Observations:

• Moses accepted GOD’s calling on his life.
• Moses wanted peace with his father-in-law, so he asked for permission.
• GOD had to assure Moses that no one would be out to kill him because those who sought his life were all dead.

 

As comfortable and content as Moses was, he was being asked to go and free the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. GOD helped Moses overcome his comfort and contentment by sending him back into action. The reason Moses killed an Egyptian is because he saw unfair treatment. He took matters in his own hand, which caused the Egyptians to want to kill him and the Israelites to fear him. He was in a bad place.

 

BUT GOD gave him comfort that HE would be with him. Moses packed up his family, Zipporah, Gershom and Eliezer, and headed to Egypt. He also took with him the rod of GOD as a sign that he believed in what GOD said.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about his conversation with his father-in-law.
• Have you come to grips with GOD’s calling on your life even though it may be scary?
• Are you overwhelmed by GOD’s calling on your life and will you accept HIS peace?

Free Will Taken Seriously

Free Will Taken Seriously

Exodus 4: ¹³ But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

 

¹⁴ So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵ Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. ¹⁶ So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. ¹⁷ And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

 

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Seeing the miracles of the rod becoming a serpent and his hand becoming leprous may have convinced Moses that he was talking to GOD. He even was talking to a bush on fire but it was not consumed. But Moses declined GOD’s calling.

 

My Observations:

• GOD tries to include humans in HIS plan to save people and has strong feelings when HE is rejected.
• GOD was still gentle with Moses and HE provided him with an alternative.
• When Moses left Egypt, he must have told Aaron and Miriam which direction he would go so he could be found.

 

Being called into GOD’s plan is not what we want as humans. Moses just wanted to live a content life. He did not want to be rich or famous or powerful. He was speaking to GOD and turned down HIS offer. BUT GOD wanted Moses.

 

GOD shows us something strange. HE did not force Moses to do what HE wanted. HE also showed us that HE will not step in to make us do anything. HE takes the free will HE gave us seriously. HE gave Moses an alternative to consider. Moses could have said “No” again but this time he didn’t. GOD asked Moses to help HIM rescue HIS people. I believe HE is doing the same for you and me.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS anger HE had in the response?
• Have you ever turned down GOD because HE asked you to do something difficult?
• Do you want GOD to do everything and not expect HIM to want you to do something for HIM?

Excuses to Not Trust

Excuses to Not Trust

Exodus 4: ¹⁰ Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

 

¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? ¹² Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

 

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After GOD showed HIS power three times, Moses said to GOD that he was not a good speaker. GOD replied to him in a comforting way.

 

My Observations:

• Moses ended up being one of the greatest leaders in history, yet he had insecurities.
• Moses was ambivalent to the calling of GOD.
• GOD reveals that HE knows when people are sick and is involved with health.

 

When GOD’s calling collides with human free will, it seems to be a battle. Moses had a comfortable life and wanted to simply live with his wife and kid(s). He didn’t seem like he wanted to protest, fight or face any issues, yet GOD was sending him to face a human who was powerful, antagonistic and worshipped as a god.

 

Moses may have gotten scared. Wouldn’t you? BUT GOD said something we all can learn from “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” GOD does not seem harsh here, rather HE is concerned about the people in Egypt and seems to want humans to interact with human problems. HE carefully allows free will to be managed by humans, but intervenes enough. GOD wants our trust.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS conversation regarding Moses’s excuse?
• Has GOD ever clearly given you a promise that you started making excuses not to trust?
• What thing is GOD withholding to compassionately develop a greater trust in HIM?

If They Do Not Believe You

If They Do Not Believe You

Exodus 4: ⁶ Furthermore the Lord said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. ⁷ And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. ⁸ “Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. ⁹ And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.”

 

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Moses was sent by GOD to bring the Hebrews out from under the cruel hands of the Egyptians. Moses asked questions about his calling. GOD obliged him by performing miracles. Moses stuck his hand in his bosom and it became leprous. He then put it back in and it was healed.

 

My Observations:

• Moses needed convincing that he was called by GOD to do what HE said.
• Moses placed his hand in the fold area where the ribs meet the stomach, but there may have also been a miraculous insertion under the skin.
• GOD told Moses that if they do not believe, then HE was going to handle it.

 

Convincing people was not Moses’s job like he thought. He was simply supposed to be obedient and allow GOD to do the supernatural stuff. This is the first time leprosy is mentioned in the Bible. GOD was showing Moses that HE can cause a supernatural disease and heal it just as easily.

 

GOD wanted Moses to have solid belief in his calling. HE wants the same with you. It is not up to you whether someone believes in GOD’s calling on your life, or that they place their belief in HIS SON. GOD wants you and me to be faithful to HIM and to do as HE says. HE is looking for the lost and HIS directions on our lives are pure in HIS pursuit.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the miracle of leprosy on his hand?
• Do you need convincing of your calling?
• Once convinced of your calling, what are your next steps to being faithful to GOD?

You Have Everything You Need

You Have Everything You Need

Exodus 4: Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”

 

² So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

 

He said, “A rod.”

 

³ And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), ⁵ “that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

 

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Moses, being unsure of himself, asked GOD “What if they don’t believe me?” GOD had just told Moses to go get HIS people out of Egypt. Moses needed some confirmation.

 

My Observations:

• Moses felt insignificant, inadequate and inferior to the Egyptians who had armies, wealth and power.
• GOD asked Moses a question that HE knew the answer to, but wanted Moses to self-discover what HE was about to do.
• GOD turned the rod into a serpent to convince Moses that HE can do anything and that serpents are under HIS authority.

 

“You have everything you need,” seems to be the message GOD was giving to Moses. “All you need is the stick you have in your hand and I will do the rest,” is what I’m getting from this demonstration of power. I believe you and I underestimate the true power of GOD.

 

When we try to steer GOD by telling HIM what we need, we miss the point that HE has already provided us with everything we need. GOD was about to use a rod to defeat the Egyptians who were mistreating other humans. When you have GOD you have all you need.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the conversation HE had with him about the rod?
• Do you sometimes feel inadequate to take on large challenges GOD may want you to take on?
• Will you trust GOD and know you have everything you need to defeat the giant you are facing?