Command, Identity, and Covenant
Exodus 4:24–26 (NASB95)
24Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision.
Commentary – Command, Identity, and Covenant
Few stories in Exodus are as mysterious and challenging as what happens to Moses on the road to Egypt. Just as Moses sets out to fulfill God’s call, the journey is interrupted by a crisis that has puzzled readers for centuries. There are some things about this account we can speak to with a degree of certainty, other aspects only with speculation.
The verses are not clear on who specifically the Lord sought to put to death. It seems logical that it is one of two possibilities: either the Lord sought to put Moses to death, or He sought to put Moses’ son to death. Opinions on this vary due to some missing details in the scriptural account. My personal view is that Moses’ son is the “him” referred to in these verses.
Regardless of which “him” is being referred to, what is happening in these verses to warrant such a strong response from our God? That is a topic that we can speak on.
Moses had neglected to circumcise his son, ignoring the sign of the covenant that God gave to Abraham and his descendants. Circumcision was not a minor ritual. It was the outward mark of belonging to God’s people, a sign of exclusive loyalty to Him. Moses was about to represent God before Pharaoh and call Israel back to covenant faithfulness, yet his own household was not fully obedient to God’s most basic command. Further, remember how we are first introduced to Moses. In chapter two, we are told that both Moses’ mother and father are of the tribe of Levi. Chapter six reinforces this point by giving us Moses’ extended lineage, showing that he descends from the tribe of Levi. Why is this important?
There is more than one reason Moses’ pedigree is important. For this conversation, here is what we want to remember. Who were the Levites? What was their function? They were the priestly tribe of Israel. They represented God to the people and the people to God. They taught the law and instructed the people. They kept the nation clean. Moses was the first priestly representative appointed by God to His people. A priest, a Levite, should know better the importance of circumcision in relation to the identity of God’s covenant people. Moses knew better. The scriptures are silent on why Moses did not circumcise his son as required by the covenant. But the scriptures speak loudly that God expected more from His chosen leader, especially a priestly representative from the tribe of Levi.
God’s action was not arbitrary wrath. The language suggests that God was giving a warning and an opportunity for correction. Moses’ mission could not succeed if he called others to faithfulness while neglecting it himself. At this critical moment, Zipporah, Moses’ wife, recognized the seriousness of the situation. She acted quickly and decisively, circumcising their son and touching Moses with the blood. Her words, calling Moses a “relative of blood,” signaled that the covenant had now been honored in their family. The crisis passed, and Moses was able to continue his mission.
Zipporah’s courage and insight stand out. She joins a line of women in Exodus who act boldly to advance God’s purposes. The midwives, Jochebed, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter all played crucial roles in God’s plan. Zipporah’s action was not just about ritual. It was about restoring her family’s relationship with God and ensuring that Moses could lead with integrity. God’s seriousness about the covenant is clear. He does not accept half-hearted service or leaders who call others to obedience while neglecting it themselves. God desires a close relationship with His people, marked by wholehearted faithfulness.
For us today, this story is a sober reminder that God cares deeply about the alignment between our words and our actions. What separates us and identifies us as His people is not something to take lightly. We cannot call others to faithfulness if we are neglecting it in our own lives. God’s grace gives us opportunities to correct our course, but He also expects us to respond with decisive obedience. If there are areas in our lives where we have been slow to obey, now is the time to act. God wants our whole hearts, not just our words. If our choice is to serve God, we serve Him on His terms and not our own.
In His Service,
Ryan Goodnight