Moses Begins His Mission
Exodus 4:18–23 (NASB95)
18Then Moses departed and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand. 21The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23“So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”
Commentary – Moses Begins His Mission
Moses’ return to Egypt began not with a dramatic announcement but with a quiet conversation. He approached Jethro, his father-in-law, not simply to ask for permission but to seek a blessing and an amicable release. Moses had lived under Jethro’s roof for decades, both as a son-in-law and as an employee. He wanted to leave well, honoring the man who had shown him hospitality and kindness. The language Moses used was polite and respectful, much like the careful words he would later use before Pharaoh. Moses did not see himself as needing permission that could be denied. He sought goodwill and a peaceful departure, showing the importance of humility and respect in moments of transition.
God then reassured Moses that it was safe to return to Egypt. Those who had sought his life were now dead. In the ancient world, a new regime often meant old penalties were canceled. God’s words marked the close of Moses’ long season of exile and signaled that the time for action had come. Moses gathered his wife and sons and set out for Egypt, carrying the staff that was now called the staff of God. What had once been a simple shepherd’s tool was now a symbol of divine authority. Moses’ willingness to take his family and the staff showed his full commitment to God’s calling and his identity as an Israelite, even after years in Midian. Moses’ sons, at least one of them, will become important in the next set of verses.
God prepared Moses for the challenge ahead by warning him that Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened. The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is a theme that runs through the Exodus story. From a Wesleyan perspective, God’s hardening is not coercive. God does not override Pharaoh’s free will. Instead, God’s action is judicial and confirmatory. Pharaoh’s own pride and stubbornness are allowed to run their course. God’s sovereignty is displayed in His ability to use even human resistance for His purposes, but Pharaoh remains morally responsible for his choices. God’s grace always enables a response, but He never forces anyone to obey.
From my perspective, here is how I would explain the circumstances surrounding God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. Up to this point, God has made two things clear: 1. His people will go free, and 2. Pharaoh will not let the Hebrews go willingly. With these points, we see God display His omniscience. He knows what will happen and how it will come about. He also knows that when He displays His power to Pharaoh, it will not cause Pharaoh to recognize who God is and give Him glory; instead, it will cause Pharaoh to turn from God and even hate God. But because justice demands that the Hebrews be freed, God will proceed with the plan anyway. This does not prevent Pharaoh from having a choice in the matter, even if God already knows the choice Pharaoh will make. As I have stated many times, we see both God’s sovereignty and human free will at work simultaneously.
God then declared that Israel is His firstborn son. In the ancient world, the firstborn held a place of honor and inheritance. By calling Israel His firstborn, God claimed a special relationship and set the stage for a direct confrontation with Pharaoh. God warned that if Pharaoh refused to let Israel go, Egypt’s firstborn would die. This warning foreshadowed the final plague and the Passover, when God’s judgment would fall on Egypt, and deliverance would come for Israel.
The language of the firstborn son points us forward to Christ. In Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5, Jesus is called the Firstborn, the One who holds preeminence and authority. Matthew 2:15 quotes Hosea 11:1, applying the Exodus story directly to Christ: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Israel’s deliverance as God’s firstborn son finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the true Firstborn, whose sacrificial death secures redemption for all who believe. The story of Moses and Israel is not just ancient history. It is a living picture of God’s redemptive plan, unfolding from Exodus to the New Testament and reaching its climax in Christ.
For us today, these verses call us to trust in God’s timing and sovereignty. Like Moses, we may find ourselves in seasons of waiting or transition. God’s plan often unfolds in ways we do not expect, but His timing is always perfect. We are called to obey, even when the path is uncertain. We are reminded to approach others with humility and respect, seeking peace and blessing in our relationships. Above all, we are invited to see our lives as part of God’s larger story of redemption, trusting that He is sovereign and His plans will not fail.
Blessings,
Ryan Goodnight