Society is full of individuals who live by the motto, “do as I say, not as I do.” Part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is designed to inform the audience that God expects more of Christians, Matthew 5:43-48. Apparently, Moses didn’t get this memo as his wife Zipporah convinced him not to circumcise their son. Based upon the passage below, God’s message to Moses is clear: no one is exempt from obedience, especially leaders.
Along the way at a [resting-] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely and almost fatally ill]. 25 [Now apparently he had [b]failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch [Moses’] feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me! – Exodus 4:24-25.
The apostle Paul touches on this spiritual condition in Galatians 1:10, seeking to please human beings who you can see over God. Perhaps, God expected more from a man who witnessed and spoke to the flame of God inside a desert bush. Then again, if Moses lost his cool by killing an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrew slaves, perhaps Zipporah’s response to her husband was due to Moses’ anger management issues.
When He let [Moses] alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision. 27 The Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mountain of God [Horeb, or Sinai] and kissed him, Exodus 4:26-27.
Whatever the root cause was for Moses’ decision not to obey the Lord, Jesus reveals God’s expectations for Christians in the first century, Matthew 5:43-48. God holds his followers to greater standards. Rather than uphold the expectations of society, Jesus calls believers to perfection. While this is impossible to achieve, Romans 3:9-12, God expects Christians to strive for perfection. Moses’ near fatal illness serves as a reminder that no one is exempt, especially leaders.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 