Exodus 4:24

God was going to put honour on Moses, but there was already something in Moses' house that dishonoured Him. God could not pass it over. How was it that Moses' sons were not circumcised? How was it that the sign of putting the flesh to death was missing in those closest to Moses? How was it that God's glory was forgotten in a matter that should always have been first in a father's heart?

What happens in verses 24-26 becomes clear when we see that God was stepping in for Israel under the covenant He had made with Abraham, recorded in Genesis 17:1-14. Circumcision was the token, or sign, of that covenant. God had stated plainly that if it was not kept, the penalty would be death. Here was Moses, chosen under that covenant to be the leading figure in Israel's deliverance — and he had not obeyed the sign! As the responsible man, he faced the death penalty!

Zipporah was not related to Israel by blood, so she could not have been ready for this, and the Lord had no dispute with her. It was Moses or his child, not Zipporah, whom the Lord would have killed at the inn, as the command required (Gen. 17:14). Moses' life was forfeited under that command, and it was grace that spared him.

A hindrance only ever comes through the flesh. When some difficulty is brought in to pull a faithful man of God away from obedience, God still reaches His end — only in a far more painful way, and often through the very person who stood in the way. What a safeguard it is, then, to be childlike and subject to the Lord! How many sorrows we escape that way!

Of course, if the Lord had meant to kill Moses, He could have done it with no warning at all. And it is clear He did not mean to kill him, for He had already told Moses that he would deliver Israel from Egypt. Still, the sentence of death was against Moses because he had not carried out that sentence in his own household… God had told Moses, "Israel is My son," and Moses is to be reminded that God's son Israel must also learn the truth of circumcision — the cutting off of the flesh — which stands for death itself. For there is no proper relationship with God apart from death to the flesh.

Those who demand obedience from others should be models of obedience themselves. The Lord dealt severely with Moses because he had failed to circumcise his son (Ex. 4:24-25). It seems he had given in to his wife over it. Until that was put right, Moses could not call Pharaoh to obey God's commands without contradicting himself.

No high place in service, no depth of knowledge of the deepest things of God, will excuse a servant for overlooking any of God's commandments. No — he must feel that since much has been entrusted to him, much will be required of him. Full obedience to God's word must mark the life and ways of even the greatest and best-taught servants.