How can we apply the lesson of obedience from Exodus 4:25 today? The Scene and Its Weight “Then Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,’ she said.” • God had just confronted Moses on the way to Egypt because Moses had not circumcised his son (vv. 24–26). • Circumcision was the covenant sign given to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 17:10–14). • Zipporah’s swift action averted judgment; immediate obedience restored fellowship. Core Truths About Obedience Drawn from the Verse • Delayed obedience is disobedience. • Partial obedience is disobedience. • God’s covenant commands are not optional or culturally negotiable. • Obedience may be costly, messy, or uncomfortable, yet it secures blessing and averts discipline. • Family leadership carries responsibility for ensuring the household honors God’s commands. Principles for Life Today 1. Act promptly when God’s Word exposes a neglected duty. • James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” 2. Honor God’s ordinances even when culture resists. • Acts 5:29 — “We must obey God rather than men.” 3. Lead your household in visible covenant faithfulness. • Deuteronomy 6:6–7 — teach His commands diligently to your children. 4. Treat Christ’s instructions (baptism, Lord’s Supper, moral commands) with the same seriousness Israel gave circumcision. • Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:26. 5. Remember that obedience flows from love, not mere ritual. • John 14:15 — “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Practical Steps • Review any areas where you have postponed clear biblical directives (forgiveness, reconciliation, purity, giving, church involvement). • If you are a parent or guardian, ensure your children are taught, guided, and, when appropriate, brought into the ordinances of the faith. • Invite accountability: share your obedience commitments with a mature believer who will lovingly follow up. • Reorient schedules and finances so they align with God’s priorities first, not last. • When obedience feels costly, recall 1 Samuel 15:22 — “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” Scriptures Echoing the Call • Deuteronomy 10:12–13 – “What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD… and to keep His commandments…” • Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” • 1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” Living It Out The same God who required Moses to honor the covenant still calls His people to wholehearted, immediate, and complete obedience. Respond quickly, lead faithfully, and watch how prompt obedience opens the way for God’s purposes to move forward unimpeded in your life and family. |
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