Why Did the Lord Search to Put Moses to Dying, and What Is a “Bridegroom of Blood”? (Exodus 4)

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²⁴At a lodging place on the way in which the Lord met him and sought to place him to demise. ²⁵Then Zipporah took a flint and minimize off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ ft with it and stated, “Certainly you’re a bridegroom of blood to me!” ²⁶So he let him alone. It was then that she stated, “A bridegroom of blood,” due to the circumcision.
—Exodus 4:24–26

A Complicated Episode

At first look this episode is without doubt one of the most curious in Exodus (and, some would say, your entire OT). The textual content leaves a lot unsaid, resulting in a variety of opinions regarding its that means.¹ Most agree that the Lord seeks to kill Moses (Ex. 4:24) and that Zipporah’s actions save him (Ex. 4:25–26). However what’s the connection between the 2? And why does the Lord search Moses’ demise within the first place?

Circumcision is central to this story (Ex. 4:25). Earlier, the Lord had commanded Abraham to circumcise his sons because the covenant signal, an indication that was to be utilized all through the generations (Gen. 17:10–13). All those that weren’t circumcised had been thought of covenant breakers and had been to be minimize off from the Lord’s folks (Gen. 17:14). That Moses’ son—presumably his firstborn (cf. Ex. 4:25 with Ex. 2:21–22)—shouldn’t be circumcised places Moses in the identical place as Pharaoh: simply as Pharaoh is withholding firstborn son Israel from the Lord by not releasing him (Ex. 4:22–23), Moses is withholding his firstborn son from the Lord by not making use of to him the covenant signal. That the Lord seeks Moses’ demise underscores the flawed’s severity (and is a warning to all Israelites to you’ll want to elevate their youngsters within the Lord’s covenant). It additionally explains why Zipporah’s motion saves Moses, since she instantly resolves the issue by making use of the covenant signal to their son.

Whereas not all agree with the strategy simply named, the variety of opinion will increase tenfold once we ask, “However why does Zipporah contact the foreskin to Moses’ ft² and describe him as a ‘bridegroom of blood’ (Ex. 4:25–26)?” Right here one is on a lot shakier floor, as evidently answering these questions with any diploma of certainty requires background data the textual content assumes however doesn’t state. To the second query one could observe that Exodus 4:26 implies this saying to be well-known amongst Israelites. Its that means, nevertheless, stays mysterious, as does the motion accompanying it, and the preacher or instructor would do properly to keep away from constructing any factors of utility on proposed solutions to those two particular questions.

What Is Occurring within the Bridegroom of Blood Account?

Regardless of all of the remaining questions with this account, it appears clear {that a} essential level is the significance of Israelites’ making use of the covenant signal (circumcision) to their sons, thus exhibiting that they’ll elevate him as a covenant member (cf. touch upon Ex. 4:24–26). As a common precept, dad and mom should elevate their youngsters in covenant religion.

This precept is seen all through the OT and NT, which exhorts dad and mom to show their youngsters the Lord’s methods. Typically this takes place by means of rituals, the place the educating occurs by means of bodily illustrations (Ex. 12:24–27; 13:3–10, 11–16; cf. 1 Cor. 11:23–26). Typically this takes place within the context of on a regular basis life: “You shall educate them diligently to your youngsters, and shall discuss of them whenever you sit in your own home, and whenever you stroll by the way in which, and whenever you lie down, and whenever you rise” (Deut. 6:7). In both case such instruction is to be carried out with tender love: “Fathers, don’t provoke your youngsters to anger, however convey them up within the self-discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4; cf. Col. 3:21). When reality is given with out love, many youngsters will assume it to be a lie. Simply because the Lord who offers us his reality additionally exhibits us his tender love, so dad and mom are to offer their youngsters reality and present them tender love—and on this method be the perfect bodily illustration potential of who the Lord is.

This text is by Jay Sklar and is tailored from ESV Expository Commentary: Genesis–Numbers (Quantity 1) edited by Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar.

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