GOD CALLS MOSES (2), Dr. Samuel Lee
"HE TOOK THE STAFF OF GOD IN HIS HAND"
Passage: Exodus 4:18~31  
Key verse: 20
Moses Returns to Egypt
18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.”
Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.”
19 Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill(A) you are dead.(B)” 20 So Moses took his wife and sons,(C) put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff(D) of God in his hand.
21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders(E) I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart(F) so that he will not let the people go.(G) 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,(H) 23 and I told you, “Let my son go,(I) so he may worship(J) me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”(K)
24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses[a] and was about to kill(L) him. 25 But Zipporah(M) took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin(N) and touched Moses’ feet with it.[b] “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26 So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)
27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain(O) of God and kissed(P) him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.
29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders(Q) of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs(R) before the people, 31 and they believed.(S) And when they heard that the Lord was concerned(T) about them and had seen their misery,(U) they bowed down and worshiped.(V)
Footnotes
- Exodus 4:24 Hebrew him
- Exodus 4:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
Cross references
- Exodus 4:19 : Ex 2:15
- Exodus 4:19 : Ex 2:23; Mt 2:20
- Exodus 4:20 : Ex 2:22; 18:3; Ac 7:29
- Exodus 4:20 : S ver 2
- Exodus 4:21 : S Ex 3:19, 20
- Exodus 4:21 : Ex 7:3, 13; 8:15; 9:12, 35; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8; Dt 2:30; Jos 11:20; 1Sa 6:6; Ps 105:25; Isa 6:10; 63:17; Jn 12:40; Ro 9:18
- Exodus 4:21 : Ex 8:32; 9:17
- Exodus 4:22 : S Ge 10:15; Dt 32:6; Isa 9:6; 63:16; 64:8; Jer 3:19; 31:9; Hos 11:1; Mal 2:10; Ro 9:4; 2Co 6:18
- Exodus 4:23 : Ex 5:1; 7:16
- Exodus 4:23 : S Ex 3:18
- Exodus 4:23 : Ge 49:3; Ex 11:5; 12:12, 29; Nu 8:17; 33:4; Ps 78:51; 105:36; 135:8; 136:10
- Exodus 4:24 : Nu 22:22
- Exodus 4:25 : S Ex 2:21
- Exodus 4:25 : Ge 17:14; Jos 5:2, 3
- Exodus 4:27 : S Ex 3:1
- Exodus 4:27 : S Ge 27:27; S 29:13
- Exodus 4:29 : S Ex 3:16
- Exodus 4:30 : S ver 8
- Exodus 4:31 : S Ex 3:18
- Exodus 4:31 : S Ex 2:25
- Exodus 4:31 : S Ge 16:11
- Exodus 4:31 : S Ge 24:26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Moses, with the blessing of his father-in-law and God's assurance, no longer a hunted man, takes his family and begins the journey to Egypt. He obeyed God, taking the staff of God in his hand. Moses had cared for Jethro's sheep for 40 years with this staff. Now it was God's staff, symbolizing God's plan to shepherd his 'firstborn son' Israel through Moses, just as he told Moses.
2. Zipporah and Aaron help Moses (24-31)
It is hard to know why God wanted to kill Moses in the event at the lodging place. But two things stick out: it was important to God that Moses' sons be circumcised, and God blessed Zipporah's faith and action to save her husband. Aaron also heard God's voice and obeyed, and was able to help Moses just as God instructed (3:14-16). In this way, Moses was accepted as God's servant by the people, and they worshiped God, recognizing in Moses and Aaron that God was concerned about them and had seen their misery.
Prayer: Father, you are a good shepherd, and you raise shepherds to care for your people. Help me recognize your hand at work and worship you.
One Word: God helped Moses who obeyed