Return to Egypt

Sermon 10 in Series

Exodus 4:18-31
[18] Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” [19] And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” [20] So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

[21] And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. [22] Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, [23] and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

[24] At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. [25] Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” [26] So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

[27] The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. [28] And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. [29] Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. [30] Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to 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 people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How does the transition away from Moses’ objections at the beginning of v. 18 highlight the importance of obedience? How are we tempted to redefine disobedience as “struggling”?2.   What does it mean to say that Moses had not really lived as an Israelite? In what ways does this passage show God reconstituting his Israelite identity as he returns to Egypt?
3.   What does God’s act of hardening Pharaoh’s heart tell us about his sovereign power, and what are some implications for us? Why did he do it?
4.   What was the problem with Moses not circumcising one of his sons? What does this teach us about the seriousness of sin and the need to walk worthy of our calling in the New Covenant?
5.   At the end of the passage, how does Yahweh fulfill his Word and confirm Moses’ leadership? How does this encourage us in our vocations?

References: 2 Peter 1:3; Acts 7:25; Exodus 14:4; Genesis 17:11-12; Ephesians 4:1.