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Text: Exodus 4:24-26
Moses wrestled with this calling for the last two chapters. He’s said he’s slow of speech. He’s said no one will believe him. He’s said no one will listen. And at each point, the LORD has given an answer to his excuse. Now, the LORD threatens Moses with death in what seemed to be a bizarre threat to us reading this. But clearly, Zipporah knows what needed to be done. This event is not as confusing to Moses or Zipporah as it may be to us.
Get back to basics
- Moses is threatened with death. Whether it’s a sickness or something else, the threat of death is the direct result of Moses preparing to enter the ministry without being part of God’s covenant in Genesis 17:9-14.
- Moses failed in the very basic instruction of circumcision that God gave to Abraham in Genesis 17. And how weird it must’ve been since no Israelites had been circumcised for the centuries that they lived in Egypt. Now, Moses and his family would have to re-establish this token of righteousness, which apparently Moses was unwilling to do.
- There are certain things that need to be in place to honor the LORD Jesus Christ.
- Paul’s letter to Titus and Timothy deals with things that need to be in place for anyone taking on spiritual leadership in a congregation (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1-2)
The offense of a bloody religion
- The reproach of Christ and the offense of the cross are essentially the same things. It is a foolish and unnecessary assault on the flesh, according to the world. This is one of the main arguments against Christianity.
- Circumcision and the putting off the flesh as seen in Romans 4:11-12
- Circumcision and the Holy Spirit are alike in the putting off of the flesh according to Colossians 2:11-12.
- Circumcision served as a reminder for Abraham to remember God’s covenant with him. In the same way the Holy Spirit of God would remind the believer in John 14:26.
- Circumcision was a seal of God’s covenant, in the same way, the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30).
Resentment in marriage
- Zipporah is frustrated with Moses because she’s had to do this bloody thing that Moses was apparently unwilling to do.
- In any marriage, when one spouse decides to abandon their responsibilities it breeds resentment in the other spouse. In ministry, there are more responsibilities placed on husband and wife and therefore more ways for resentment to show up.
- Part of this comes from God, but another part comes from people.
- Those of you that work, is your spouse expected to show up at your work and help you? The ministry is different.
- When an employer hires you, did they expect that your spouse and your children would be participating too? The ministry is different.
- The ministry is the only job I know of where a pastor can be paid for their work, but the congregation gets a piano player, a song leader, a nursery director, etc., in addition to them getting a pastor.
- These kinds of things can be very hard for a pastor’s family and particularly his wife. Zipporah is already starting to feel the pressure here.
- Recent conversations about men in ministry that didn’t know how to support their wives and end up losing their wives. Usually because expectations weren’t reasonable or right and wives become frustrated and guilty that they aren’t doing the right things.
