Exodus Chapter 4

Exodus 4:1 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.

What if????? This sounds just like me, if the Lord would have asked me to do this thing. I would feel just like Moses.

If I could just go in and wave a magic wand and cause the Egyptians to become immobile long enough for the children of Israel to escape, that would be easy but name it and claim it was not God's plan here. The task of freeing the children of Israel could have been made easy by the power of God but God did not do it that way.

Actually, if someone came along telling us that God wanted to do a certain thing, it would be our responsibility to find out if they were really from the Lord or not. There have been many Moses imitators over the years. Some have led people to disaster. Remember Jim Jones.

Exodus 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

Most natural reaction to a snake is to fear or run from it. Perhaps Moses had to conquer this fear.

Exodus 4:4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

God gave Moses the power to bring forth miracles to show the children of Israel that he was sent from God. This is one reason that Jesus said that signs would follow them that believe. The signs would convince people that the message they preached would be the truth. Now however, we have to be careful because the bible says there will be false prophets who do signs and wonders to deceive. However, if we are full of the spirit and in obedience to God, we can know the difference.

Still it is great when we believe without seeing any miracles. I believe in miracles, I want to see miracles. I do not believe the gifts of the spirit died with the apostles but it is still great to see someone come to believe in Jesus Christ even though they did not see a visible miracle. Still faith that comes by way of miracles are great at the beginning but does not last when the trials come. We need our faith built by the word of God and the power of His Holy Spirit.

The greatest miracle of all is to see one that is lost in sin, repent of sin and become changed by the spirit of God. Faith in Jesus is powerful enough to make the worst murderer into a peaceful child of God. Read the conversion of the apostle Paul. Actually that is a greater miracle than a physical healing we can see. However, I still believe God uses miracles and I believe when we need a miracle God will make it available. During the latter day great tribulation, I believe Israel will see great miracles again.

Exodus 4:6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

These signs did convince the people that Moses was really from God but like I wrote before, I do notice that signs and wonders are quickly forgotten when they cease for a season and we go through the trials. That is why we need the study of the word. David wrote "Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." When the praise and worship ceases, the trials start and we fail to see miracles, we need the word hidden in our hearts to sustain us. Praise and worship both in songs and in prayer is needed though. It strengthens us and also helps sustain us through the trials. In saying all that, signs and wonders are to follow those that believe. That is scriptural. We should be surprised if they don't happen. Faith though is something to walk in with the signs and when we see no signs. Signs confirm the words we speak. It boosts faith but the faith first comes by hearing the word of God, believing what we hear and then receiving what we hear.

Exodus 4:9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
10 And Moses said unto the LORD, 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.

I too would think I was not a good speaker. I've met people who can speak eloquently and are quick to give an answer to people who ask. They have a quick comeback. Some of us can't do that.

Exodus 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

The Holy Spirit can many times bring the right scriptures to our mind when needed and give us the words to say.

Exodus 4:13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Moses still wished God would send someone else that was better or send someone to help to boost his confidence.

Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, 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.

Moses was God's first choice and perhaps this would have been best but God had mercy on Moses' weakness and lack of confidence So He gave him a helper.

Exodus 4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

The ones who would have remembered the deeds of Moses were no longer living. Again we see the mercy of God dispelling any other fears Moses may had had in returning to Egypt.

Exodus 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
23 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.

This literally is what happened. Egypt had plenty of occasions to escape the loss of their firstborn but they abided in unbelief and suffered loss. Even on the Passover night, all they would have had to do was put the blood of a sacrificial lamb on the door posts and they would have been spared.

Exodus 4:24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.
26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

These verses are kind of difficult to grasp but it shows that just because Moses was called of God didn't mean that he could neglect to circumcise his own sons. This was a covenant given to Abraham and his seed after him. Moses was held to this also. Perhaps he avoided it because of being married to a wife of another nation which may not have required circumcision. However, Zipporah understood what was missing and did what was required.

Exodus 4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.
29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
31 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.

This first burst of faith from them was great but real faith is tried. Things will go wrong and it will seem as if God really wasn't going to deliver them after all. We too, sometimes think living for God is a bed of roses with no trials or trouble. That kind of name it and claim it faith is not really faith. This holly jolly get rich quick faith is not true faith. True faith stands in the word of God even when things go wrong, people do not respond to our message and they way gets rough.
We can read of the great faith chapter in Hebrews:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Believe more than Jesus once existed. Believe He is alive now at the right hand of God and is coming again. DC

Exodus 5
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