Moses Returns to Egypt

Moses Returns to Egypt

Exodus 4:18-21 The time has come for Moses to return to Egypt. He doesn't tell Jethro he's on a mighty mission just that he want to go back to his people. The immediate threat to his life was gone so he packed up and left.

God intended for Moses to have face to face interaction with Pharaoh. What’s really going on is that through Moses God would have His demand delivered directly to the man at the top. But God warned Moses that Pharaoh would refuse to listen. Jesus gave us the same warning, “if they reject me, they will reject you", "you will be persecuted for teaching what I tell you".

Why tell Moses this? Why tell us this?

Application: opposition to God's truth can cause any of us to falter in faith and obedience... "if YHWH is really all powerful how can anyone resist? … If God's really in control  why do I see evil winning?” We know in our hearts and minds that God allows everyone freedom to choose good or evil, which results in a world filled with both good and bad. But somehow, living it can still challenge our faith. God telling us in advance that there will be opposition gives reassurance:

1. reminds us that God is in charge even when events appear otherwise
2. helps us keep our eye on the victory that awaits on the other side of trials, and troubles… because also lays out how His will shall be accomplished

10x it says God would harden Pharaoh's heart... 10x it says Pharaoh hardened his own heart. So it was as much his own doing as God's decree. Pharaoh was already a hard man... God never took over his free will... but God did orchestrate events to make it easy for Pharaoh to reject His word.

Who Are These People to Me?

Exodus 4:22-23 YHWH spells out His relationship with Israel... His first born son. Within the ancient world the first born son was special:

• was specifically favored with inheritance - receiving a double portion
• would come to represent the father as he matured, gaining more responsibility in business and legal matters pertaining to the family. The firstborn son would serve the father
• within Israel the first born legally belonged to God (he had to be bought back by his parents (Ex 13:1, Genesis 17 Isaac). 

All humanity are children of God because He created every one of us. However, this designation as first born comes by decree, by grace, by choosing, and it concerns the spiritual relationship… instead of flesh. God's spiritual Fatherhood is established through covenant not conception. This relationship includes God's demand for obedience and service... His blessings and cursings... His training and correction. The new covenant describes the same basic relationship... but with better promises and blessings.

Note: the NIV translation "that they may worship me" which isn't wrong, but it isn't good. The literal meaning is "that they may serve me". The distinction brings out an important point: Israel would not be redeemed so they might enjoy limitless freedom to do as they pleased... (neither are you).

Israel would merely transferred their service from the hard taskmasters of Egypt to the light and loving yoke of service to YHWH. Within the new covenant God’s reaches out to you and redeems you from your cravings and sins… not so you can do as you please.. but to serve righteousness.

All life is service... but with God you do get to pick your master.

YHWH Corrects Moses

Exodus 4:24-26 Moses had for whatever reason neglected to circumcise his son. This was a serious offense for parents Genesis 17:14. God threatens him on it, danger in some form, perhaps sickness, hits Moses hard and he recognizes in it God’s displeasure. How could Moses represent the God of covenant when He was not himself administering the sign of covenant in his own family?  Did Moses neglect circumcision because he was lazy? … or, to keep the peace with his Midianite wife who perhaps objected to the foreign practice. We don't know.

Zipporah knew what the death threat was about but the language here is ambiguous:

1. She was quick thinking and resourceful... swiftly rectifying the offense
2. She opposed to circumcision but did it to prevent disaster... annoyed at her “bridegroom of blood” for bringing this into their family?

Either way it does appear that after this incident Moses sent Zipporah and the children back to Midian only bringing them back after the crossing of the Red Sea before Sinai Exodus 18:2-6.

First Contact

Exodus 4:27-31 the initial response with the people of Israel was positive, the people believe… the people are willing… the people worship. Later when faced with the wrath of the Egyptians they falter badly.

Exodus 5:1-5 In context the request is reasonable. All nations worshiped their own God's in their own way, at their own special times.at their own special places. Why not Israel?

• Pharaoh's refusal begins with a natural enough question "Who is YHWH"? He had never heard of this unknown God. Note: He would say this again later but the meaning of it would mean something else.
• Then he accuses them of making it all up as a ruse to avoid work.

Here is an example of God giving Pharaoh a request that was easy to reject and thus contributing to his hardness of heart.  The initial request only mentions 3 days, not forever. No big deal right? But having refused YHWH once on this small matter it became easier the next time... even easier the third time etc. Each time God’s demand becomes a little more challenging but Pharaoh was building up emotional resistance and hardness of heart.

Application: that's the way it is with our sins. We begin with matters that are small and seemingly inconsequential. Then, because there is no lightning bolt from the sky we are willing to do it again.... perhaps going a little further each time... and as we go we harden our hearts to the leading of His holy spirit.

Ezekiel 11:17-20 sometimes God uses trials, even punishments to restore our sensitivity to sin. Like we saw with Moses and circumcision, like God’s punishment on the kingdom of Judah. But there is always a easier solution… repent and seek mercy through Jesus Christ.

Exodus 5:6-13 after a little thought Pharaoh sought to extinguish this rising desire  for freedom and self determination which he called “false hope”. The plan was to work Israel so hard they wouldn’t have time to think about anything else but their work. Its a logical extension of Pharaoh’s current strategy of reducing Israel through hard labor.

Exodus 5:14-21 the people don't understand that Pharaoh is doing this on purpose. They even fault the Egyptian workers for not supplying the necessary straw. Pharaoh’s plan was always been to hold down the birthrate of Israel through hard labor. He has the foremen beaten harder... then the people blame Moses for what has happened.

Application: when trials and troubles come upon us its tempting to blame God. Blaming Pharaoh would have been more logical but then Pharaoh would retaliate. Its easier to blame God who is patient and long-suffering. God does not appreciate being blamed for evil.

Moses Has a Question

Exodus 5:22-23 "why have the results of my words been greater suffering instead of deliverance"?

God had warned him Pharaoh would resist. But surely the almighty YHWH would be able to overpower all resistance. Moses had not anticipated setbacks... where the situation gets worse before it gets better. Application: even though we know trials await us... when they actually come we are surprised. Moses does what he ought to... he seeks answer in prayer.

God does not answer Moses question point by point. He simply doubles down on the original plan and the original promise. But there are a few new details that come out.

Exodus 6:1-8 Pharaoh was just doing what Pharaohs do... oppressing, bullying, extracting wealth. Humanity long ago rejected the sovereignty of God in favor of self rule. These are just the consequences of that choice. God had no special reason to punish the Pharaoh until he refused God's request. But NOW everyone was going to see and experience the power of God through the plagues unleashed on Egypt. Its a setup to demonstrate the judicial power of YHWH over all human authority beginning with mighty Egypt.

Reviewing the situation from having read the entire record of the exodus: God knows the people want freedom but they still love the sensual delights of Egypt. Without the increase of opposition and hostility with Egypt they might not have actually wanted to leave. They might have wanted deliverance through reforming the system rather than heading off into the unknown. By the end even the Egyptians themselves realize the people of Israel must simply get up and go.

Application: we all think about having the best of both worlds... having God in my right pocket... but also having all that I love about the world in my left pocket. There is good in the world BUT there are some things in this world which are incompatible with the righteousness of  God. Some incompatibilities are obvious... others are not... others are deceptive. As a rule we have to be mentally  prepared to give up any worldly thing. At times we can become blind to our own compromises... sometimes God uses suffering and trial to break through the mental fog.

With guidance from God's holy spirit a trial can help us see the loathsomeness of sin, or the futility of the flesh, or the good works we are leaving undone. With God and His promises in your life trials and troubles gain meaning and purpose... more than mere outcomes of time and chance.

In verse 3 God said I am revealing myself to your generation in bigger and better ways than ever before. Sharing with you Moses and with all Israel the name YHWH (the eternal) which is a more personal level of disclosure than el Shadahi (the powerful God) ever was.

To Abram God showed himself to be real… to Israel God showed himself to be supreme… to the Church God showed Himself through Christ… a God seeking a personal relationship with you. But God has more to reveal about himself in the future!

1 John 3:2-3 -- 1 Corinthians 3:12

You have been chosen to to see and witness the next great revelation of God… the second coming of Christ.  At that time the first fruits are resurrected and will see Him coming to earth. Most people will never see this next stage in God’s unfolding revelation of Himself. But you will… because you will be raised to life to witness it.

Everyone Loses Heart

Exodus 6:9-12 faith and optimism are hard to maintain when faced with ongoing pain and suffering. The people lose heart, even Moses has wavered.

What is God's answer? ... a genealogy table. What?

Exodus 6:13-27 the listing starts with the 12 tribes that came to Egypt all the way through to the children of contemporary personalities like Aaron and Korah. Moses' own children are left out. Sadly, his lineage does not have a bright future in the history of Israel.

People in the ancient world loved these genealogical sections of the bible because it showed them how they fit into the grand scheme of things. Who was who, where did they come from, who were they connected to etc. We don't use lists like anymore but we still care about stuff like this: we create family trees, genealogies are a popular hobby, people like to trace their family history back into the past, the new twist on this desire to know who we are and the connections we have is DNA testing... 3,500 years ago people had lists.

With this list God is saying I've been working a plan for a long time... all of you are part of it... Moses and Aaron are part of it as priest and prophet.

Application & Conclusion: sometimes life is quiet, peaceful, and steady... other times it's turbulent and worrisome. A good way to ground your self is to review the plan... review who you are and how you fit in... so you don't feel like a lonely boat on the sea. Every year we march our way through the holy days of God... God's ministry rehearse the basics of where God has been, where He is going, who you are, how you fit in, what you ought to do to prepare your self. This is one of the many blessing God's holy days provide... don't neglect them.