What can we learn about God's expectations from Zipporah's actions in Exodus 4:26? The moment on the road “So the LORD let him alone. At that time she said, ‘Bridegroom of blood,’ referring to the circumcision.” (Exodus 4:26) Key observations • God’s judgment was already falling on Moses, yet Zipporah’s decisive act halted it. • The crisis centered on circumcision—the covenant sign first given in Genesis 17:9-14. • By touching Moses’ feet (a Hebrew euphemism for his person) with the blood, Zipporah identified her husband with the covenant act her son had just undergone. • Her words “bridegroom of blood” acknowledge that covenant relationship with God is sealed in blood (cf. Hebrews 9:22). What God expects, revealed through Zipporah’s actions • Immediate obedience, not delayed compliance. – Compare Genesis 22:3, where Abraham “rose early” to obey. • Head-of-household responsibility: Moses had neglected to circumcise his son; God held him accountable (cf. 1 Timothy 3:4-5). • Reverence for covenant signs. God treats His ordinances as non-negotiable (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 regarding the Lord’s Supper). • Holiness over convenience. Zipporah acted in a moment too urgent for comfort or cultural norms. • Substitutionary intervention: her sacrificial step averted judgment, foreshadowing the greater substitution of Christ (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 3:18). Applications for believers today • Examine areas of delayed obedience; God expects swift alignment with His revealed will. • Honor the ordinances Christ has given—baptism and communion—with the seriousness Scripture commands. • Lead spiritually in the home; neglect invites divine discipline. • Recognize that God’s covenants are blood-bought and therefore precious—live accordingly (Hebrews 10:29). |
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