Genesis 4 Reunited for Work
Moses and Aaron have been separated for a LONG time. Now, they are reunited for work, a work of God. It’s time to return to Egypt!
♥ ♦ ♥
Moses has one thing he has to do before he can go back to Egypt. He has to tell his father-in-law, Jethro, that he is leaving. Moses has been quite a distance away while grazing the sheep. It will take him a few days to return the sheep to his father-in-law’s encampment. All the way there, Moses keeps thinking about what God has in store for him. He is replaying the events on Mt. Horeb over in his mind.
“This isn’t going to be easy, even with Aaron along to help.” “What does God mean about ‘hardening Pharaoh’s heart’?” “Will the people actually listen to me?” “I wonder what they will think of the sighs God told me to share with them.” “How long until the people are actually moving on from Egypt?” “What will the Egyptians think of this?” “Better yet, what will my own people think of this?” “What if some of them remember what I did?”
These were just a few of the thoughts running through Moses’ mind as he made his way back to his father-in-law, Jethro’s, home. It felt like it took forever, but it was actually only three days. Moses also rehearsed what he would say to Jethro. He didn’t know if Jethro would try and talk him out of it. “I suppose if God can get ME to agree to this, He can get Jethro on board too” concludes Moses.
“Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive” (Exodus 4:18b).
Jethro put up no resistance at all. “Go in peace” (Exodus 4:18c) was all Jethro said.
As Moses was readying his family for the journey, God spoke to him again. This time it was to ensure Moses that he would be safe in returning.
“Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead” (Exodus 4:19).
Moses didn’t even realize, until that moment, that he was still carrying around fear of being killed for his actions 40 years ago.
It’s time to go. Moses put his wife, Zipporah, Gershom, and Eliezer on donkeys. It is a long trip, and his sons are young enough that they would tire too quickly. Moses made certain to bring the staff that God had worked the signs with. It was his usual walking stick, so it went everywhere with him anyway.
Moses didn’t have time to think over all the question he came up with on the way back to Jethro and his family. Once they were on the road to Egypt, God began speaking to him in his heart. It was a voice that Moses clearly recognized after his experience at the bush.
“When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power…”
“The staff, the leprous hand, and water to blood is all I know” thought Moses.
“…But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go…”
“I remember You saying something about that before.”
“…Then you say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son’” (Exodus 4:21-24).
“That is harsh! I bet it gets his attention though” thinks Moses.
It’s getting late in the day. Moses decides that it is time to rest for the night. For the sake of the children and Zipporah, he chooses a lodging place instead of camping by the road.
Just as Moses and his family are about to reach the inn he has chosen; an angel of the Lord appears before him. He stands in the path with his sword drawn, ready to strike Moses dead on the spot. Moses freezes!
Zipporah immediately recalls a heated discussion she and Moses had at the birth of their sons; almost as if she were reliving it at that moment.
“Abraham was commanded to circumcise all the males, either bought or born into his family. If one is uncircumcised, he is an outsider. My sons must be circumcised in order to belong to the people of Israel.”
“I don’t want my children mutilated! I am of the land of Midian and we do not do such things here. And YOU are living in the land of Midian.”
Moses had relented, and both their sons still wore the foreskin of their birth. Zipporah knew this instant that God was calling Moses to account for this sin against him. He could not go back and lead his people out of Egypt if he could not even lead his own family in this covenant commandment.
Zipporah quickly jumped from the donkey, grabbed a flint knife that was in her pack. Next, she took Gershon’s hand and drew him to her. “I must do this to save your father.” Zipporah quickly laid him on the ground, moved his robes aside and swiftly removed the foreskin from him male member.
Gershon screamed with the pain, but it was over quickly. Eliezer tried to withdraw when his mother reached for his hand. “Don’t fight me. It will only hurt for a moment, but it will save your father’s life.”
In under five minutes, Zipporah had both foreskins removed and in her hands. She bowed low as she made her way over to where Moses and the angel of the Lord stood. She took the foreskins and touched them to Moses’ feet; an act of submission and acceptance of his role as head of their household. Her sons would now be counted among the Hebrews.
She also poured out her heart in acceptance of Moses’ place in God’s plan. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me” (Exodus 4:25b).
As soon as she had said these words, the angel of the Lord departed. Moses raised her up off the ground and held her tight.
“How did you know what to do” he asked.
“I don’t know. Our argument regarding this commandment from God came to my heart, and I just knew.”
“I am grateful; more than you will ever know.” Moses understood that this sin stood in his way of obedience to the Lord. Not just the sin of his sons being uncircumcised, but the sin of not leading his household in the ways of the Lord. He would never make this mistake again.
While Moses and his family are making their way towards Egypt, God speaks to Aaron.
“Go into the wilderness to meet Moses” (Exodus 4: 27b).
God didn’t have to ask Aaron twice. Aaron knew of Moses’ flight from Egypt 40 years ago. He knew the whole story behind it. How Moses had tried to save an Israelite from being beaten to death. Aaron missed his brother. But more than that, Aaron followed the Lord’s direction in all his life.
Aaron set out that very day. The two of them happened to meet up at Mt. Horeb; the very mountain where Moses encountered God in the form of the burning bush. As soon as the two brothers met, they hugged and kissed one another.
“You will never believe what I have been through” exclaims Moses.
“Tell me! I’m ready” replied Aaron.
Moses begins to relate the story, starting with the burning bush, and ending with the angel in their path. “And the Lord told me His name; I Am!” “He said that we are to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go.” “He said that Pharaoh would refuse and that later on, he would lose his firstborn if he didn’t release Israel; His firstborn.” “Oh and check out these signs God told me to show to the elders of Israel, to prove to them that He spoke with me.”
Moses throws his staff down and it becomes a snake. Aaron jumps back in fear. Moses then reaches down and grabs it by the tail, and it reverts to being his staff. Aaron puts his hand out to touch Moses staff. Confusion and amazement war with each other on Aaron’s face. Moses’ face is pure smiles.
Next, Moses puts his hand inside his robe, then draws it out. Aaron is sickened by the appearance of Moses’ leprous hand. Moses holds up a finger, indicating ‘wait’, then puts his hand back inside his robe. When he pulls it out again, it is whole. Aaron’s eyes are nearly bulging out of his head as he examines Moses’ restored hand.
“God gave me one more sign, but we can’t do it here. It is turning water into blood before the eyes of the elders and Pharaoh.”
Aaron shakes his head in wonder. “They can’t doubt after seeing these signs!”
Zipporah and the boys had watched all this from a distance. “Do you think father would let me play with the snake” asked Eliezer.
“It is a sign for the Lord; the God of Israel whom your father now serves. And while we are on the subject, you need to start calling your father, ‘Abba’. It is Hebrew for father.”
“Why momma” asks Eliezer.
“Because it shows respect for your Abba’s heritage. Now that you have been circumcised, you are fully part of the people of Israel.”
“Is that what you did to us earlier? I did NOT like it!”
“I know. I’m sorry. It should have been done when you were eight days old, according to the commandment of your Abba’s God. But I refused to allow it. That was my sin. And that is why I had to make it right. I am sorry that you had to suffer for my sin.”
Gershon and Eliezer are still feeling the effects of their mother’s actions. The love both their parents though and would do anything they asked of them.
When the group reaches Egypt, the first thing Moses does is take his family to meet his birth family. His Ima and Abba are dead, but his sister Miriam is overjoyed to welcome them into their home. Miriam lives with Aaron and his wife and sons.
While Moses is settling his family, Aaron goes to call a meeting of the elders. “The Lord has sent someone to lead us to freedom! You must come and hear him.”
“Who is he?” “How is he going to do it?” “Where is he from?” All these questions and more ring out from the elders.
“Have patience. All will be revealed when we assemble together after dusk” Aaron assures them.
The time has come. The elders are all gathered together in the chief elder’s home. Aaron enters and draws Moses with him. Many of the elders recognize Moses immediately.
“What is this!” they demand.
“Please be patient and listen.” Aaron then begins to tell the story exactly as it was related to him. “The Lord God of Abraham; of Isaac, and of Jacob has indeed appeared to my brother. He has been given the task of standing before Pharaoh on our behalf. It will not be easy. But we know that God promised to do this for us from the beginning. He has also sent Moses with signs to do for you so that you would believe that our God actually spoke with Moses.”
Moses handed Aaron his staff. Aaron threw it on the ground and it immediately became a snake. Aaron reached out his hand and picked it up by the tail and it resumed its shape as Moses’ staff.
Moses next put his hand in his robe and pulled it out. It was again leprous. Moses put it back into his robe and withdrew it again. It was healthy and whole again.
Moses and Aaron had prepared for the final sign the Lord promised by stopping off for a small jug of water from the Nile. Seeing that not all the heads were nodding yet, Aaron withdrew the jug from the folds in his robe. He pulled the stopper and began to slowly pour the water out. All could see that clear water flowed from the mouth of the jug. But blood is what pooled in the puddle where it landed.
The elders were convinced! ALL of them. They bowed their heads and began thanking and praising the Lord at that very moment!
“The Lord has seen our afflictions. He has heard our cries. And has sent us someone to lead us to freedom!”
(to be continued)
It was a LONG time since Moses saw any of his people. He was welcomed, once they knew he had encountered the Lord. They wouldn’t be so happy he came along in a little while. This was ‘Step 2’ in a LONG line of steps to freedom for Israel.
Father God, thank You for sharing Your stories with me. I didn’t remember the part about Zipporah circumcising Moses’ sons before. Even when trying to understand her part of the story from my bible helps, I didn’t truly understand it. Only when YOU showed it to me here, did I finally understand. Thank You for ALWAYS finding a way to open my heart and mind to Your word.
