A Bloody EncounterExodus 4:24-26

First 4 Chapters of Exodus

1. The Suffering of Israel2. The Emergence of Moses3. The Call of Moses4. The Commission of Moses

Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law ... (Exodus 4:18)

“Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.”

“Go in peace.”

“Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” (4:19)

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. (4:20)

Moses’ Family

Wife: Zipporah (2:18)Sons: Gershom (2:22)

Eliezer (18:4)

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. (4:21)

Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” (4:22-23)

“If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.” (23)

At a lodging place on the way ... (4:24)

the LORD met him ... (24)

Background

Place: at a lodging place on the way

People: Moses and his familyThe LORD

Circumstance: A Divine Encounter

At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. (24)

Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it ... (25)

“Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!”

So he let him alone. (26)

Storyline

Conflict: God’s assaultResolution: Circumcision

Perform

“A bridegroom of blood” because of (or referring to) the circumcision.

Who is he?

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' his (?) feet with it ... (24-25)

Who are you?

“Surely you (?) are a bridegroom of blood to me!” So he (the LORD) let him (?) alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision. (25-26)

Moses

Gershom

Eliezer

Met him

Kill him

Her son

His feet

You are

Let him

Moses

Gershom

Eliezer

Met him

Kill him

Her son

His feet

You are

Let him

Moses

Gershom

Eliezer

Met him

Kill him

Her son

His feet

You are

Let him

Moses

Gershom

Eliezer

Met him

Kill him

Her son

His feet

You are

Let him

Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons ... (18:2-3)

And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.” (Gen 17:9-10)

“... and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations ... So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. (17:11-13)

Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant. (17:14)