“At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death” (Exodus 4:24 ESV).
In this strange and startling scene, Moses had already been called to deliver Israel from Egypt, yet on the journey back, the LORD confronted him with a life-threatening judgment. The context seems to show that Moses had failed to circumcise his son, neglecting the covenant sign God had given Abraham in Genesis 17. As the appointed deliverer and representative of God, Moses had overlooked obedience in his own household. Zipporah, his Midianite wife, quickly circumcised their son and touched Moses’ “feet” (a euphemism for the genitals) with the blood, and the LORD spared him. Whatever Moses’ reason, perhaps trying to keep peace in his marriage or adopting the customs of Midian, his failure placed him under divine discipline. The passage revealed that the holy God who called Moses was also a consuming fire, yet He provided a way of escape through the shedding of blood. This event served as a graphic reminder to the nation that God’s leaders must be blameless within their own tents before they can lead the congregation.
This passage serves as a sobering warning to us that our public service for God can never outpace our private obedience to Him. We often find it easier to compromise on spiritual convictions to keep the peace at home, yet we see here that God views the neglect of His Word as a grave matter. We might be tempted to prioritize the preferences of our family over the clear commands of Scripture. However, we must remember that God is a consuming fire who holds those in leadership to a higher standard. Just as the apostle Paul later instructed Timothy that leaders in the church must “manage their own households well” (1 Tim. 3:4, 12), we must realize that our credibility as spiritual leaders is rooted in our faithfulness at home. May this understanding move us to examine our hearts and our family relationships, remembering that spiritual leadership begins at home.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we come before You with trembling hearts, recognizing that You are holy and just. We ask for the insight to lead our families according to Your Word. Help us to manage our households well so that we may represent You with integrity to a watching world. We thank You for the blood of Christ that covers our sin and sets us free to serve You. In Jesus’ name, amen.