Exodus 4:27-31

Exodus 4:27-31

English Standard Version 

  Moses was so focused that the people would not believe, but Aaron and Moses do exactly as God had instructed them, and the people believe.  They are ready to believe, eager to hear what God has in store for them.  Aaron and Moses work together, and through them, the people are led into their next step.  This is what happens when people work together to glorify and serve God -- the people are strengthened.  

  May we follow their example.  Moses and Aaron had to work together, and they each used what God had given them.  They may have been afraid or uncertain, but they trusted in God, and they learned to trust in each other.  The people looked at them and saw God working through them.  They bowed their heads and worshiped.  

Exodus 4:24-26

Exodus 4:24-26 

English Standard Version 

  On the list of verses that I'd just as soon skip, this strange passage is near the top of the list.  It's an obscure passage that struggles away from most attempts to explain it.  Here is Moses on the way to liberate the Hebrew people from Egypt, and he is suddenly battling for his life.  Remember, the Lord has told Moses that he can go in peace, because the people who seek his life are dead.  So the way is thought to be clear, but there is more adversity to face.  There is a bloody struggle.

  Perhaps the event points forward to the bloody struggle in Egypt that awaits.  Perhaps it is a test in the wilderness, as many other Biblical characters must face.  

  I cannot fully explain it -- there are mysteries beyond what I can comprehend.  I do know that the Bible often reminds me that God is less tame than I am tempted to think.  As Aslan explains in C.S. Lewis' works, God isn't safe, but God is good.  To entrust ourselves to God is to trust something wild that cannot be fully known.  Are you willing to take that step?  Moses could've turned and run at this point, recognizing that this was a God not to be controlled.  Moses stayed, faithfully, continuing to trust in God.  If Moses can do so after such an event, then perhaps we should as well, despite not being able to see fully what God has in store for us.

Exodus 4:21-23

Exodus 4:21-23 

English Standard Version

  Like many of you, I've often wondered what it means for God to say that he'll harden Pharaoh's heart.  Does this mean that God isn't allowing Pharaoh to exercise his free will?  Is God forcing him into this situation?

  I don't think that's the case.  It would be in conflict with so much else of what we see in Scripture.  I do think that God allows Pharaoh's worst tendencies to stand out here, and Pharaoh's arrogance ends up ruling his mind and heart and driving his decisions.  

  What we see is a clash -- Pharaoh's belief in himself as a god, and God's actual power and strength.  At some point, all of our false gods come into conflict with the reality of God's awesome wisdom and sovereignty.  We have a decision to make -- will we stubbornly stick to our own view of the universe, or will we submit to God's lordship, trusting that as hard as it may seem, God's wisdom is greater than our own?

Exodus 4:18-20

Exodus 4:18-20 

English Standard Version 

  I'm guessing that Moses omitted the part about fleeing for his life from Egypt when he was initially talking with Jethro.  Probably a good thing to skip over when meeting your future father-in-law if you want to make a good impression.  

  We all have things in our past that we'd prefer weren't there.  You do.  I do.  Moses did.  

  But that doesn't stop God from using you, just as it didn't stop God from using Moses.  I don't think this is God endorsing Moses' prior action, but it is God saying that this doesn't have to be an obstacle to faithfulness going forward.