# Exodus Chapter 4
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## Summarrium
Continuing the dialogue from Chapter 3 Moses points out that the people will not believe him and the Lord provides two signs the staff to serpent and the leprous hand. The Lord also tells Moses that if he pour water from the Nile onto the ground it will turn into blood. Moses then complains that he isn't a particularly eloquent speaker and the Lord points out that he made the mouth of men and will teach Moses what to speak. Moses then beseeches God to send someone else and the Lords anger is kindled against him but he nonetheless agrees for Aaron to be his 'mouth'.

Moses then seeks Jethro's leave to return to egypt to his people and he is granted permission. The Lord instructs Moses to point out that the Lord will take Pharaoh's firstborn if he does not return the Israelites to to him. The Lord meets Moses on the way and attempts to take his life until Zipporah (his wife) circumcises their son. Moses relates all he has been told to Aaron, and is brought to the people where he again demonstrates the Lords power and the people Worship the Lord.

## Meditatio

This chapter contains one of the most human statements in all of scripture: “*Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.*” (see Verse 13). What is a significant encouragement is that we see here Moses wrestling with the reality of his calling. He is trying to find reasons not to do what he has been asked. Indeed there is good reason for him to not do what he is being asked.

We should recall that Moses had occupied a position of power in Egypt historically (the household of Pharaohs daughter) until he killed a man and was effectively all but exiled. Now the Lord wishes him to return to raise a complaint against the most powerful man in one of the most powerful Empires and threaten the life of his successor if he does not comply.

An equivalent might be to travel to North Korea to tell Kim Jong Un that his son will die unless he allow his work force to leave the country unopposed. We might ourselves equally be daunted by such a task. But imagine being an exile from that same country; a known and wanted man. I can only acknowledge the number of times I have wanted to say 'Lord please send someone else.'

There is also an enigmatic portion of this passage found in verses 24-26 where after instructing him to go that the Lord meets him on the way and attempts to put him to death. Now there is  much that is unclear about this passage. In context it would seem that the Lord met *Moses* and attempted to end his life. Some believe 'him' that the Lord attempted to kill in this context actually means Gershom Moses son.

From a narrative perspective it makes little sense to instruct someone to do something that places their life at risk (which undoubtedly threatening Pharaoh's son's life would have been) and then on the way there attempting to kill them. But this could well point to Moses own shortcoming and failure to uphold the covenant. Here the Lord is passing judgment and sentance but blood is sufficient to atone for his sin.

This of course will become thematic throughout scripture with the blood of the lamb at passover and ultimately what this will come to foreshadow; namely the crucifixion of Christ. Blood becomes the mechanism by which the wrath of God is averted and Justice is satisfied. Yet this passage seems somewhat out of place. Perhaps the Lord felt that before Moses could be in a position to pass judgement over another mans son he must first ensure his own was right with God.