Introduction

Exodus 4 shows Moses continuing to resist his calling with more objections, while God patiently provides signs, a helper, and reassurance. The chapter ends with Moses returning to Egypt, a strange near-death encounter, and the elders of Israel believing that God has finally come to deliver them.

Moses' Second Objection: They Won't Believe

[1-9] God provides miraculous signs.

• Moses' doubt [1]: "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?"
• Sign 1: The staff [2-5]: "What is that in your hand?" "A staff." God tells him to throw it down—it becomes a snake. He picks it up by the tail—it becomes a staff again. "This is so that they may believe."
• Sign 2: Leprous hand [6-7]: "Put your hand inside your cloak." When he takes it out, it is leprous. He puts it back—it is restored. If they don't believe the first sign, they may believe the second
• Sign 3: Water to blood [8-9]: If they don't believe either sign, take water from the Nile and pour it on dry ground—it will become blood

Moses' Third Objection: I Can't Speak

[10-12] God addresses Moses' self-doubt.

• Moses' claim [10]: "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
• God's response [11]: "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"
• Promise of help [12]: "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

Moses' Final Objection: Send Someone Else

[13-17] God's patience reaches its limit.

• The real objection [13]: "Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else."
• God's anger [14a]: Then the Lord's anger burns against Moses
• Aaron as helper [14-16]: "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him."
• Take the staff [17]: "Take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it."

Moses Returns to Egypt

[18-23] The journey begins.

• Jethro's blessing [18]: Moses returns to Jethro and asks permission to go back to his own people. Jethro says, "Go, and I wish you well."
• God's assurance [19]: In Midian, the Lord tells Moses, "Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead."
• Family journey [20]: Moses takes his wife and sons, puts them on a donkey, and starts back with the staff of God in his hand
• God's instructions [21-23]: "When you return, perform all the wonders I have given you. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, 'Let my son go, so he may worship me.' But you refused. So I will kill your firstborn son.'"

The Strange Encounter

[24-26] A mysterious, troubling event.

• The Lord seeks to kill Moses [24]: At a lodging place on the way, the Lord meets Moses and seeks to kill him
• Zipporah's action [25]: Zipporah takes a flint knife, cuts off her son's foreskin, and touches Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she says
• The Lord lets him go [26]: So the Lord lets him alone
• Interpretation: This puzzling passage likely concerns circumcision—the sign of the covenant. Moses apparently had not circumcised his son, perhaps due to Zipporah's Midianite background. He cannot lead Israel while neglecting the covenant sign

Aaron Meets Moses; Israel Believes

[27-31] The mission begins.

• Aaron sent [27]: The Lord tells Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." He meets him at the mountain of God and kisses him
• Moses explains [28]: Moses tells Aaron everything the Lord has said and all the signs He commanded
• The elders gather [29]: Moses and Aaron bring together all the elders of Israel
• Aaron speaks and shows signs [30]: Aaron tells them everything the Lord has said to Moses and performs the signs before the people
• The people believe [31]: They believe. When they hear that the Lord is concerned about them and has seen their misery, they bow down and worship

Key Takeaways

• God equips whom He calls [2-9, 11-12]: Every objection meets divine provision
• Resistance has limits [14]: God's patience has boundaries; eventually we must obey
• Covenant obedience matters [24-26]: Even leaders must be faithful to God's commands
• God's concern moves His people [31]: Knowing God cares leads to worship

Reflection Questions

• What objections do you raise when God calls you to something difficult?
• Who has God provided as an "Aaron" to support you in your calling?
• Are there areas of covenant faithfulness you've been neglecting?