Preparing To Fight Preparing To Lead
God has sent Moses to Egypt for a heavyweight encounter with Moses. Like any good trainer God does not send Moses to see Pharaoh unprepared.The divine preparation is not only for the battle with Pharaoh but for the more important task of leading the Israelites. We get a view of God’s fighting and leadership training camp in Exodus chapter 4:18-31. The text reveals seven key things that God does to ready Moses to meet with Pharaoh. Read Exodus 4:18 -31, then review the list of the seven key preparations that we will discuss on Thursday during our time together.
Exodus 4:18-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Moses Returns to Egypt
18 Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me go back to my own people in Egypt and see whether they are still living.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 The Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt, and Moses carried the staff of God in his hand.
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put in your power, 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 firstborn son. 23 I said to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” But you refused to let him go; now I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”
24 On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin, touched his feet with it, and said, “Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!”
26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said “a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
Exodus 4:18-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin, touched his feet with it, and said, “Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said “a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went, and he met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him and all the signs with which he had charged him. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and performed the signs in the sight of the people. 31 The people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had given heed to the Israelites and that he had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
Seven Key Preparations To Fight & To Lead
1. The Blessings Of Jethro – Exodus 4:18
18 Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me go back to my own people in Egypt and see whether they are still living.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
Having the blessings of those we love, and respect is vital for any undertaking.Reflect for a moment on the importance of having the blessings of the important people in your life. Who are the people you would like to bless your endeavors?
2.
God’s Assurance Of Safety - Exodus 4:18
19 The Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who were seeking your life are dead.” For Moses going back to Egypt meant facing a murder rap, a thing that had to be of concern. Consider this question, how does God provide assurances of safety in your life?
3.
God Gives Us Powers To Do His Will - Exodus 4:21
20 So Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt, and Moses carried the staff of God in his hand. Moses carried the staff of God on his return to Egypt, which contained the power of God. Think about the powers the God given you. What are they and how have you used them to do God’s will?
21AndtheLordsaidtoMoses,“Whenyou goback to Egypt,seethatyou perform beforePharaohall the wondersthatI haveputinyourpower,butI will hardenhis heart,sothathewill notletthepeoplego.22 Thenyou shall say toPharaoh,‘ThussaystheLord:Israel ismy firstbornson.23I saidtoyou,“Letmy songothathemay serveme.” Butyou refusedtolethim go;nowI will kill your firstbornson.’ ”
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that the Lord has prosperous plans that will give us a hope and a future. God gave Moses a plan to deal with the mighty Pharaoh. Discuss God’s plan for your life recap how God made a way out of no way in your life.
5.GodGotMoses’sPersonalLifeInOrder-Exodus4:24-26 24 Ontheway,ataplacewherethey spentthenight,the Lordmethim andtriedtokill him.25 ButZipporahtook a flintandcutoff herson’sforeskin,touchedhisfeetwithit, andsaid,“Truly you areabridegroom of bloodtome!” 26 Sohelethim alone.Itwasthenthatshesaid“abridegroom of blood,” becauseof thecircumcision.
This disturbing incident, in which God was going to kill Moses, is not fully explained in the text, but we can piece together an idea of what occurred. Here are the clues:
- God was seeking to kill Moses
- Zipporah, Moses’ wife, took a flint knife and circumcised their son
- after the operation, Zipporah touched Moses’ feet with the foreskin
21AndtheLordsaidtoMoses,“Whenyou goback to Egypt,seethatyou perform beforePharaohall the wondersthatI haveputinyourpower,butI will hardenhis heart,sothathewill notletthepeoplego.22 Thenyou shall say toPharaoh,‘ThussaystheLord:Israel ismy firstbornson.23I saidtoyou,“Letmy songothathemay serveme.” Butyou refusedtolethim go;nowI will kill your firstbornson.’ ”
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that the Lord has prosperous plans that will give us a hope and a future. God gave Moses a plan to deal with the mighty Pharaoh. Discuss God’s plan for your life recap how God made a way out of no way in your life.
5.GodGotMoses’sPersonalLifeInOrder-Exodus4:24-26 24 Ontheway,ataplacewherethey spentthenight,the Lordmethim andtriedtokill him.25 ButZipporahtook a flintandcutoff herson’sforeskin,touchedhisfeetwithit, andsaid,“Truly you areabridegroom of bloodtome!” 26 Sohelethim alone.Itwasthenthatshesaid“abridegroom of blood,” becauseof thecircumcision.
This disturbing incident, in which God was going to kill Moses, is not fully explained in the text, but we can piece together an idea of what occurred. Here are the clues:
- God was seeking to kill Moses
- Zipporah, Moses’ wife, took a flint knife and circumcised their son
- after the operation, Zipporah touched Moses’ feet with the foreskin
-Zipporahcalledherhusband“abridegroomofblood,” referringtothecircumcision -atthatpoint,“theLordlethimalone”(Exodus4:26).
BasedonthefactthatGodwasgoingtokillMoses,we assumethatMoseshadcommittedsomesinagainstGod. ThefactthatthecircumcisionofMoses’soncausedthe LordtorelentindicatesthatMoses’sinwasafailureto circumcisehisson.ThefactthatZipporah,notMoses, performedthesurgerysuggeststhatMoseswasunableto doithimself;thesameconclusionissupportedbythefact thatZipporahtouchedMoses’feetwiththeproofof circumcision—thiswouldbemorenaturalifMoseswere bedridden.And,ifMoseswasconfinedtobed,themethod thatGodwasusingtokillhimwaslikelyanillnessofsome kind.
So,asfaraswecantell,GodwasthreateningtokillMoses becauseMoseshadnotcircumcisedhisson.Thequestion thenis,whywasthatparticularsinbeingjudgedso harshly?SurelytherewereothersinsthatMoseswasguilty of,yetGodchosetopursuethedeathpenaltyoveralack ofcircumcision.Theanswerprobablygoesbacktothetime ofAbraham.
WhenGodcalledAbramandestablishedacovenantwith him,HechangedhisnametoAbrahamandgavehimasign ofthecovenant:circumcision.Moseslaterwrotethis account:“ThenGodsaidtoAbraham,‘Asforyou,youmust keepmycovenant,youandyourdescendantsafteryoufor thegenerationstocome.hasbrokenmycovenant” (Genesis17:13–14).
Moses,asadescendantofAbraham,hadbeen circumcised.But,forsomereason,hehadnotcircumcised hisownson.ItcouldbethatMoses,asashepherdin Midianforfortyyears,hadgivenuplivinglikeaHebrew. Orperhapsheassumedhewasalready“cutofffromhis people,”sowhybotherwiththesignofthecovenant? TheproblemwasthatMoseswasgoingtoEgypttorescue thecircumcisedpeopleofGodfromtheuncircumcised Egyptians.Therewasasharpdistinctionbetweenthe slavesandtheoppressors,butMoses,theleaderofGod’s people,wasblurringthedistinctioninhisownfamily. Further,MoseswastobethelawgiverforIsrael,andit wouldnotdoforthegiverofthelawtobealawbreaker. Partofthelawwouldrequirecircumcision(Leviticus12:3). ForMosestohaveanuncircumcisedsonwouldbe blatantlyhypocritical—andhypocrisyisnevergoodina nationalleader.
Moses’personallifehadtobeinorderbeforehecould properlydirectthespirituallivesoftheHebrewpeople. WhateverthecauseofMoses’neglectofsuchan importantrite,hissinmadehimunfittoserveasa spiritualleader.Thesituationhadtoberectifiedbeforehe couldcarryouthismission.GodwasabouttokillMoses, butMoseslivedbecauseGodallowedforrepentanceand forgiveness.PraisetheLordthat“mercytriumphsover judgment”(James2:13).
WhataresomeofthethingGodhasdonetogetyour personallifeinorder?
27TheLordsaidtoAaron,“Gointothewildernesstomeet Moses.”Sohewent,andhemethimatthemountainof Godandkissedhim.28MosestoldAaronallthewordsof theLordwithwhichhehadsenthimandallthesignswith whichhehadchargedhim.
TheinabilitytospeakwasoneofthemanyreasonsMoses gavefornotbeingtherightpersonforGod’scall. God insistedandpromisedhimAaron.NoticehowGodblessed Aaronwithakiss,takeamomentandreflecttotellthe grouphowhasblessedyouandhowyouhavebeena blessingtoothers.
7.TheConfidenceGeneratedBySuccess–Exodus30-31 29ThenMosesandAaronwentandassembledallthe eldersoftheIsraelites.30Aaronspokeallthewordsthat theLordhadspokentoMosesandperformedthesignsin thesightofthepeople.31Thepeoplebelieved,andwhen theyheardthattheLordhadgivenheedtotheIsraelites andthathehadseentheirmisery,theyboweddownand worshiped.
Thereisnoimpressionlikethefirstimpression. Examine thispassageseeifyoucandiscoveratleastthreereasons whyAaronandMoses’sfirstmeetingwiththeIsraelites wassuccessful.WillthesuccessofthemeetinggiveAaron andMosesconfidenceastheymeetwithPharaoh?