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.” And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 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.
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. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 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.’”
At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 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!” So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
Comment: First and not surprisingly Mose went back to see Jethro, a holy man and to get his blessing. Having Jethro on side would be encouragement. He also collects his wife and sons. It was not a quick plane trip but a slow wearying trip on his feet – although I gather his wife and sons rode on donkeys. Secondly he is told what God expects him to tell Pharaoh. “Let my son (Israel) go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” Surely not an easy message to speak to the most important man in the land – but remember, the message comes from the Creator of the Universe, the great ‘I AM’. Thirdly Moses has an event bringing him near to death. It is dramatic language which seems to me to make a strong point, which I think is easy to understand. Circumcision was the sign of God’s relationship with Israel – both Israel the man and Israel the nation. We can understand how necessary it was that God’s spokesman carried that sign into His family as they went to face Pharaoh. Zipporah understood all this – did God speak to her in a dream? Had Jethro a descendant of Abraham generations ago told the story to his family as they grew up? She hated the job, which surely should have been done when the boy was an infant by some one else. But she did it and expressed a powerful upset because it was left to her to do it!
Prayer: Help me to understand what You want me to do and then to do it faithfully!
As I read it! 