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In this morning’s reading, Exodus 4–6, Moses was called back to Egypt and given several powerful signs to prove that God would be with him and empower him to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. However, instead of stepping forward in faith, Moses hesitated. He questioned his abilities, telling God he was not qualified for the task. After multiple objections, we read that “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses” (Exodus 4:14). While Scripture does not detail exactly what that looked like, it is certainly not something any of us would want to experience.

Because of Moses’ resistance, God allowed him to have Aaron as a spokesperson. But was this truly the best plan, or was it a concession to Moses’ doubt? It reminds me of how Abram took Lot with him, even though God had told him to leave his father’s house and his relatives behind. Aaron, as we will see later in the golden calf incident, caused some problems. It makes me wonder how much smoother Moses’ leadership might have been if he had fully trusted God's original instructions. Even so, God worked through the situation, allowing Moses to have Aaron as a helper.

A moment I have overlooked in the past occurs when God tells Moses to tell Pharoah from the onset that his refusal to let Israel go would lead to the death of his firstborn son. Pharaoh was preventing God’s firstborn—Israel—from serving Him, and in return, he would face the ultimate consequence. This foreshadows the final plague and reveals a deeper truth: when people refuse to submit to God, they will eventually suffer loss.

Another interesting event happens on Moses’ journey to Egypt. Suddenly, he becomes gravely ill—so much so that his life is in danger. The reason? He had failed to circumcise his son, an act that was a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. His wife, Zipporah, circumcised their son in Moses’ place, and only then was he spared (Exodus 4:24–26). Her response of calling Moses a “bridegroom of blood,” indicated one of two things. Either she resented the practice of circumcision, possibly being the reason it was neglected in the first place, or she was grateful that the act of obedience brought healing and restored her husband. Either way, this passage makes one thing clear—obedience matters to God.

In chapter 5, Pharaoh responds to Moses’ request by making life even harder for the Israelites. He assumed that if they had enough time to think about worshiping God, then they must not be working hard enough. So, he increased their labor, making their suffering even worse. The people, in turn, complained to Moses, who then cried out to God. This pattern will repeat itself throughout the book of Exodus:

  1. God gives His commands through Moses.
  2. The people complain to Moses.
  3. Moses brings their concerns before God.
  4. Repeat.

Moses faced resistance from all sides—Pharaoh, the Israelites, and even his own doubts. Yet, he remained faithful because he had one thing that sustained him that no one else had like he did: direct communication with God (Exodus 6:3).

There were a lot of takeaways in today’s reading: 1) Moses hesitation taught us that when we resist God’s calling out of fear or insecurity, we are really doubting His ability to work through us. 2) Moses’s failure to circumcise his son teaches that we cannot pick and choose which commands to follow—obedience in the small things matters. 3) The struggle and complaint of the Israelites teaches us that just because trials come doesn’t mean we are on the wrong path—sometimes, it’s a sign that God is preparing us to do something greater. 4) Moses’ doubt and failure to trust God’s plan teaches that our hesitation to God’s way may create unnecessary difficulties for ourselves. 5) God’s reminder that He revealed Himself to Moses in a way unlike those before him teaches us that we, too, have the same spiritual privilege. His presence empowers us to live godly lives, just as He promised (2 Peter 1:2–4).

Are there areas in our lives where we are resisting God’s call? Are we hesitating in obedience? Even when following Him makes life temporarily harder, we can trust that He is leading us toward something far greater. Like Moses, we must move forward in faith, knowing that God will accomplish His purposes—through us or in spite of us.