Description

Exodus 4: God's Signs and Moses' Doubts

Exodus 4 is a pivotal chapter detailing God's continued commission of Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. It addresses Moses' initial reluctance, equips him with signs to demonstrate God's power, and introduces Aaron as Moses' spokesperson. The chapter reinforces God's authority, His commitment to the Israelites, and His plan to liberate them, even in the face of potential resistance. It also includes a somewhat cryptic encounter where God attempts to kill Moses until Zipporah circumcises their son.

II. Key Themes and Ideas

• Moses' Reluctance and God's Reassurance:
• Moses initially doubts his ability to convince the Israelites that God has appeared to him: "And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee." (Exodus 4:1).
• God responds by giving Moses three signs to prove his divine authority: a rod that turns into a serpent and back, a hand that becomes leprous and then is healed, and water turned into blood. These signs are designed to prove to the Israelites that God has, in fact, sent him.
• Moses expresses his lack of eloquence: “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” (Exodus 4:10). This highlights Moses' human limitations and his perceived inadequacy for the task at hand.
• God's response emphasizes his sovereignty over all of creation, even speech, “Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11). God assures Moses that he will equip him: "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say" (Exodus 4:12)
• Moses' final protest is to ask God to send someone else, “O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send” (Exodus 4:13). This shows his extreme reluctance and how uncomfortable Moses is with the mission.
• The Power and Purpose of Signs:
• God provides three miraculous signs as proof of His divine commission: transforming Moses' rod into a serpent (4:2-4), turning his hand leprous (4:6-7), and the ability to turn water into blood (4:9).
• These signs serve a dual purpose: to convince the Israelites of God's presence and power, as well as to persuade Pharaoh of the urgency of the situation. They’re presented as an escalating series, starting with the rod and then hand, with a final ‘ace’ with turning water to blood.
• The signs emphasize the power and control God possesses, demonstrating that he is the one who empowers Moses.
• The Introduction of Aaron as Spokesman:
• Because of Moses' speech impediment, God provides Aaron to speak on his behalf: "Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart." (Exodus 4:14).
• This highlights that God provides ways to overcome individual limitations. God specifically states “he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God” (Exodus 4:16). This gives Moses and Aaron a dynamic in the forthcoming confrontation with Pharaoh, where Moses is more of the planner/visionary and Aaron is more of the frontman.
• Moses’ “God-like” role in the dynamic also emphasizes God's overall authority.
• God's Determination to Liberate Israel:
• God's clear and direct declaration, “Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: and I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn” (Exodus 4:22-23), demonstrates his unwavering commitment to His people.
• This sets the stage for the escalating confrontations with Pharaoh and the plagues to follow. It also gives a first taste of the ‘tit-for-tat’ type of punishment that Pharaoh will eventually face with the killing of his own son in Egypt.
• The Mysterious Encounter and Circumcision:
• The incident where God attempts to kill Moses (4:24) is puzzling but important. It is interpreted by commentators to mean God was angry that Moses hadn’t circumcised his son, as the covenant with Abraham requires.
• Zipporah's act of circumcising her son and then touching Moses’ feet with the foreskin, is meant to ward off God's wrath. The ‘bloody husband’ (Exodus 4:26) reference is thought to mean a husband acquired because of blood sacrifice, which the circumcision represents.
• Initial Acceptance of Moses by the Israelites
• Moses and Aaron carry out God’s instructions, with Aaron speaking and performing the miracles. “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: and Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (Exodus 4:29-31).
• This early victory gives Moses and Aaron the impetus to approach the Pharaoh and begin their mission, as well as providing early evidence that the Israelites do indeed believe.

III. Key Quotes

• "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee." (4:1) - Moses' initial doubt.
• "What is that in thine hand?" (4:2) - The beginning of God empowering Moses through the rod.
• "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." (4:10) - Moses' lack of confidence in his speaking ability.
• "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." (4:12) - God’s reassurance to Moses.
• “Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.” (4:14) - God’s provision of Aaron.
• “Israel is my son, even my firstborn: and I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.” (4:22-23) - God's declaration of the Israelite’s importance to him.
• “Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.” (4:25) - Zipporah’s comment after the circumcision.
• “And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (4:31) - The Israelites initial reaction to the signs and message.