Tyndale Open Study NotesExodus 4

This section describes the mission God gave Moses to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. It is divided into two parts, 3:1–4:17 and 4:18–28.

The first part describes God's call. The second part describes the full consequences of accepting that call. Moses not only experienced a career change, but he also had to completely change his life.

Moses, in his response to God, presented four reasons why he was not the one to fulfill God’s call. Although each reason supposedly relates to Moses and his ability, God’s answers show that they were really questions about God.

The third protest of Moses was that he did not have enough power. He felt unable to do what God asked him to do.

God answered by showing his own great power. He performed signs immediately. He turned the staff of Moses into a snake. He also caused a serious skin disease to appear and then disappear at once.

Across the ancient Near East, the snake was a symbol of both death and healing. The person who demonstrated power in these areas was powerful indeed.

leprous: The Hebrew word for this phrase has traditionally been translated as leprosy. But the symptoms described in the Bible do not match leprosy (Hansen's disease). The biblical term probably refers to various highly contagious skin inflammations and lesions.

As with the previous two signs, the fact that the water from the Nile will turn to blood also demonstrated God’s power over life and death.

The fourth and final protest of Moses was that he could not speak well. He seemed desperate to avoid this difficult task.

God was becoming angry at Moses for refusing to accept the truth. The outcome did not depend on the ability of Moses. Instead, it depended on his willingness to let God's power work through him.

God created the organs of speech. These include the mouth, tongue, and lips. He has also decided each person’s abilities in speaking.

God can use the abilities he has given. He is able to work through what he has created and chosen.

After raising several objections, Moses had no more arguments. So he simply asked the Lord to excuse him from the task.

God did not allow Moses to avoid his responsibility. However, he responded to the concern of Moses by appointing his brother Aaron to speak for him (14:16). Aaron would serve as the mouthpiece of Moses before Pharaoh and the people.

As the story continues, the text records fewer occasions when Aaron speaks on behalf of Moses. Moses increasingly speaks directly.

This suggests that the speaking difficulty of Moses may not have been as severe as he feared. It may also be that his confidence and ability grew with experience.

Moses was now 80 years old (see 7:7). Even so, he was still formally under the authority of his father-in-law.

he took the staff of God: Whatever he may have said to Jethro, Moses was going to Egypt in obedience to God and in the expectation of being used by God (see 4:17).

These verses summarize the upcoming chapters. They start with the request to let the people go to worship God and end with the final plague, the death of the firstborn (5:3; 11:4–6). God was preparing the rescuer for the challenging task ahead (see 11:9).

This incident is mysterious. Zipporah immediately circumcising her son suggests she and Moses had previously discussed it and decided it was unnecessary. Why would having an uncircumcised son make God want to kill the rescuer he had prepared and called?

It would seem strange for Moses to arrive in Egypt claiming to represent the God of the Israelites' ancestors, but would not do what God commanded them (Genesis 17:10). This might cause the people to be less willing to follow God exclusively.

a bridegroom of blood: The context suggests that this statement was part of a circumcision ceremony.

Circumcision was the cutting of the foreskin of a male child. It may reflect an older custom among some Semitic peoples (ancient groups from the Middle East who spoke related languages).

Among some groups, including certain African communities today, circumcision is performed at puberty rather than in infancy. If that were the case here, the phrase may connect circumcision with marriage or adulthood.

• Aaron’s coming to meet Moses is the first recorded confirmation of God’s promises (see 4:14).

• mountain of God: This refers to Mount Sinai.

In this section, the Lord promised to rescue the Israelites. He said that he would bring them out of slavery.

At first, the people responded in a positive way. They believed what God said. However, later they faced a crisis of faith. They began to doubt God’s promise and struggled to trust him.

they believed: The initial response to the good news was one of faith and worship. Contrast the response of panic in 14:10–12, when they saw Pharaoh chasing them.