Today’s passage: Exodus 4:18-31
Helpful thoughts:
- The firstborn son (Verse 22) is a title for the one who is preeminent and will be the heir. Israel was to be the inheritor of God’s promises. The Pharaoh (Being royalty) would have understood this statement very clearly (Probably better than we do). This designation also makes the final plague Egypt would endure all the more poignant (The death of the firstborn).
- God told Moses ahead of time that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart. He told Pharaoh from the very beginning, if Pharaoh didn’t let God’s “firstborn” go, He would take Pharaoh’s firstborn. God knew from the beginning exactly what was going to happen and what He was going to do. God is eternally omniscient, sovereign, providential.
- God is also holy and just. Part of the covenant Moses was part of required circumcision. The leader of Israel would be held accountable. Through the quick intervention of his wife, Moses’ life is once again preserved by the actions of another.
- The mission got off to a great start! Moses and Aaron were reunited. The people heard the plan of God, saw the signs, believed and worshiped God for having heard their cries. It wouldn’t be this easy from here on out.
Questions to consider:
- Why might we think God’s actions toward Moses in judgment would have appeared unjust? How does Zipporah’s quick action tell us that she and Moses both know what they were supposed to have done?
- Why would God have hardened Pharaoh’s heart? What purpose was it going to serve? Was Pharaoh particularly interested in following God before this series of events? What particularly was God going to harden Pharoah’s heart to do?
- How can the knowledge of God, along with his righteousness and justice, compel us to live in a healthy fear, reverence and obedience to Him? How does this give us a greater understanding of all that Christ endured on the cross as He paid the penalty for all our sin?