Exodus: The Lord and His PilgrimsНамуна

Provision and demand

Persistently, Moses goes on finding excuses for not fulfilling his God-given role – he raises first his lack of persuasive authority (v. 1) and then that he is without the gift of speech needed for the task (v. 10). Finally he pleads to God: ‘please send someone else’ (v. 13, NIV). In response, the Lord goes on countering Moses’ excuses. We must not overlook the marvel of divine patience. Where Moses feels impotent, the Lord imparts power (vv. 2–9). The serpent was part of Egypt’s imperial crown; the Nile its semi-divine river. God enables Moses to become master of both – and deals with Moses’ own impurities too (vv. 6–7). What are the tongue’s inadequacies compared with the promised power of the tongue’s Creator (v. 12)? The ‘I AM’ is sufficient and will reveal himself so. 

But why after all that patience should the Lord then seek to kill Moses (vv. 24– 26)? We must note the following: 

• The underlying issue was that Moses’ son had not been circumcised, and as soon as Zipporah, Moses’ wife, put this right, the crisis was over (v. 25). 
• Not only did Zipporah somehow realise this, but she also acted on behalf of the immobilised Moses (v. 25).
• Touching Moses with the blood (v. 25; literally, ‘made it touch his feet’) identified him with what she had done, and her words mean, ‘Instead of our marriage ending, the blood has made you my bridegroom all over again.’ 

It is, without doubt, a strange and unexpected incident, but it carries a very important message: those who go about the Lord’s business must be meticulous in their obedience. Having settled in a foreign land, was Moses disinclined to go against surrounding social norms? Maybe circumcision didn’t matter all that much? But it did! The messengers of the covenant of God must be the first to keep his covenant (Gen. 17:9–14). Those who are the Lord’s vessels must give priority to holiness (Is. 52:11). Read the requirements for being ‘overseers’ in the church (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Tit. 1:7–9) – they are very ordinary virtues, aren’t they? Would not every Christian wish to be like that? Yes, and that is exactly the point: those ‘up front’ must be ‘exhibit A’ of what it is like to be a Christian! 

Reflection

Think about verse 27. The Lord is present in every place; every heart and mind is under his sway; he calls his agents, but remains in control.