What significance do Moses' "wife and sons" have in fulfilling God's mission? Family Introduced to the Mission “So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and started back to the land of Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.” (Exodus 4:20) • God sends Moses back to Egypt with his family, stressing that the deliverer is not a lone wanderer but the head of a household living under God’s covenant order. • From the outset, wife and children are visibly tied to the rescue of Israel—they embody God’s design that His salvation agenda includes households (cf. Genesis 17:7; Acts 16:31-34). Zipporah’s Urgent Obedience “At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it. ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,’ she said. So the LORD let him go.” (Exodus 4:24-26) • Circumcision was the non-negotiable sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:10-14). • Moses had apparently neglected to circumcise at least one son. God confronted him with deadly seriousness—leadership cannot bypass covenant obedience. • Zipporah decisively circumcises the boy, averting judgment. Her action: – Preserves Moses’ life, literally ensuring Israel’s deliverer reaches Egypt. – Demonstrates that covenant faithfulness sometimes hinges on the spiritual alertness of a spouse. – Highlights that God values obedience over pedigree; Midianite Zipporah upholds a command the Hebrew leader momentarily overlooked. Names That Tell the Story “Jethro… brought to Moses his wife Zipporah, after he had sent her back, along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, ‘I have been a foreigner in a strange land.’ The other was named Eliezer, for he had said, ‘The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.’” (Exodus 18:2-4) • Gershom (“stranger there”) voices Moses’ testimony of exile; Israel will echo this alien status in Egypt and the wilderness (Hebrews 11:13). • Eliezer (“My God is help”) proclaims God’s past deliverance, pointing ahead to the Red Sea salvation. • Each son’s name becomes a living sermon—every time Moses calls them, he rehearses God’s story of rescue and promise. Witnesses to the Covenant • Wife and sons stand as firstfruits of the nation’s calling: a family redeemed to serve (Exodus 4:23). • Their presence before Pharaoh (implied by 4:20, later rejoining at Sinai) showcases what redeemed households look like. • Zipporah’s Midianite heritage foreshadows Gentile inclusion: God’s blessing will extend beyond ethnic Israel (Genesis 12:3; Romans 15:10). Foreshadowing Israel’s Experience " Moses’ Household " Nation of Israel " " ‑-------------- " ‑-------------- " " Threat of death (4:24) " Threat of tenth plague " " Blood of circumcision averts wrath " Blood of Passover lamb spares firstborn " " Journey toward covenant mountain " Exodus to Sinai " Living the Lesson • Spiritual leadership begins at home; covenant signs practiced in the family qualify us for public ministry (1 Timothy 3:4-5). • God often uses spouses to correct, protect, and advance His purposes—honor that partnership. • Name and remember God’s acts; telling the next generation cements faith (Psalm 78:4-7). • Households aligned with God become testimonies that support, not distract from, His larger mission. |
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