Exodus 4

Exodus 4:1-9

1. Moses objects the people’s unbelief, and is dishonored by the miracles he should work, ver. 1—9. 2. He objects his Records of speech, ver. 10. God promises his presence, ver. 11, 12. and joins Aaron in commission with him, ver. 14, 15, 16. and consecrates his rod, ver. 17. 3. He, with his father’s leave, par., ver. 18. 4. Receives further instructions, ver. 19—23. 5. Takes his family, ver. 20. 6. Circumscive his fee, ver. 24—26. 7. Meets Aaron, ver. 27—28. 8. Produces his commission, ver. 29—31.

2. AND Moses answered and said, But behold, they will not believe me, but hearken unto my voice: for they will say, the LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 2. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, ‘A rod. 3. And he said, Caft is on the ground; and he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent: and Moses fled from before it. 4. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail: and he put forth his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. 5. That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 6. ¶ And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom; and he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold his hand was leprous: as snow. 7. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again: and he put his hand into his bosom again, and plucked it out of his bosom, and behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou taked out of the river, shall become blood upon the dry land.

Moses, from a diffidence of himself, and perhaps too from some sinful distrust of God,

1. Suggests his fears of the people’s unbelief. God had assured him of the contrary; but how hard is it to rest on God’s word against human probabilities, and our own past experience?

2. God’s answer, v. 2—9. The miracles should speak for his million, and gain him credit in his message. Two are performed immediately, for his own satisfaction; a third is promised, if needful, for theirs. When Jesus came, the multitude and the nature of his miracles, to a demonstration, proved him sent from God. If Israel had been inexcusable to have refuted these evidences, what must we be, who are compelled about with such a cloud of witnesses, if we disbelieve or reject him?

3. ¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not: eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am flow of speech, and of a flow tongue. 11. And the LORD said unto him, ‘Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? 12. Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say?

Exodus 4:10-12

Moses still objects, and God continues to answer him.

1. He is not eloquent. Though a man of great abilities, yet flow of speech. God thus distributes diversions of gifts to his servants. Some with deep understanding want expedition and fluency; others, less sinful in judgment, have words at will. Few possess all excellences.

2. God realizes with him on his power and promise. The work is God’s; he is able to accomplish it, v. 11. It is his will it shall be done, v. 12. Note, Our gifts and graces are all from God; and if the ears are deaf to gospel calls, or the eyes blind to the things which make for our peace, God will be found just in his judgments.

3. And

4. And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou + wilt send. 14. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, It not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth; and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, e’en he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. 17. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Exodus 4:13-17

When he cannot get off by objections, he plainly begs to be excused. A sad proof of his unbelief and cowardice. And now God might justly have rejected him, and given the honour to another; but his choice is unalterable, and he will overcome the resistance of our perverse hearts. But,

1. God testifies his displeasure against him, v. 14. Note. He shews his indignation sometimes against those, whom notwithstanding he will never call away.

2. He joins Aaron in commission with him, to be his spokesman. Thus he had compassion on his infirmities, gives him his brother for a yoke-fellow, and promises to be their director, to teach them what and how they ought to speak. If God does not teach the most eloquent orator, and bleth his discourses, he will only speak to the air, or at best to the ear, not to the heart.

3. He must take his rod. The miracles must be his chief rhetoric, and his works speak more than his word. Note, A minister’s life, like this rod, will give the greatest weight to his discourses.

4. ¶ And Moses went and returned to + Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren, which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. 19. And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for ‘all the men are dead which sought thy life. 20. And Moses took his wife, and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 21. And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in thine hand: but ‘I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. 22. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh: Thus saith the LORD, ‘Israel is my son, e’me my first-born. 23. And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: And if thou refuse to let him go, behold, ‘I will say thy son, e’me thy first-born.

Exodus 4:18-23

We have here,

1. Moses taking leave of his father in law. He had received much kindness from him; duty therefore and friendship required his abating leave for himself and family to depart. We must never be wanting in respect to our parents, whatever calls of duty may be upon us.

2. God speaks farther to him for his encouragement. His old enemies in Egypt are dead. His fears are thus silenced: not that he should find Pharaoh favourable; though the miracles are to be wrought before him, he will be obstinate; but he shall suffer for it, v. 23. We must expect to find in the work of the ministry many a heart like Pharaoh’s. God calls Israel his first-born; for all are his dear children; he hath a father’s heart towards them, and they shall find a father’s care over them.

3. Moses takes his family along with him. They who are hearty in God’s cause, are very willing to hazard all in his service.

4. ¶ And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25. Then Zepporah took ‘a sharp + flume, and cut off the forefkin of her son, and ‘a cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26. So he let him go: Then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

Exodus 4:24-26

Moses in Midian seems not to have been circumspect in the observance of God’s ordinances: perhaps too his wife was averse to this bloody rite, and he feared to offend her. Now God meets him, as he met Balam, and, to refuse him from infarct death, Zepporah with indignation harms to covet. I.

cumcle the child, and casts the forefkin at his feet, with an angry reproach, and then God let him go in peace. His wife seems now to be first back to her father. Learn, (1.) How dangerous is abhorred from the people of God, and the means of grace. (2.) How apt we are to yield to the foolish fondness of others, even to the offending God. (3.) That God’s people will not escape his anger, when they offend him. (4.) When we have neglected duty, we must return to it without delay. (5.) The removal of our sins will usually alleviate or remove our judgments. (6.) We must be content to bear reproach in God’s service.

27. ¶ And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him. 28. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD, who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him. 29. ¶ And Moses and Aaron went, and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. 30. And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had wished the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Exodus 4:27-31

For Moses’s farther comfort, God sends Aaron to meet him. The interview was affectionate; and Moses having informed him of God’s commission, they proceed together, and are received with joy by the elders and people. Note, (1.) Comfortable meeting of friends is a mercy, but the obedient attention of the people to their ministers, a greater. (2.) We should not be too limous on the full promising appearances: the fullest blown tree bears not always proportionable fruit. (3.) If grace do not touch the heart, miracles can produce but temporary faith.