Exodus4

Moses expresses doubt about Israel's belief, so the LORD grants him three miraculous signs: a rod turning into a serpent, a hand becoming leprous and then healed, and water turning to blood. When Moses further objects to his lack of eloquence, God appoints Aaron as his spokesman. Moses then departs for Egypt, where he and Aaron gather the elders of Israel, perform the signs, and the people believe and worship the LORD.

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Moses' First Objection: The Signs of Authority

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee.

And Jehovah said unto him, What is that in thy hand? And he said, A rod.

And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail: (and he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand);

that they may believe that Jehovah, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

And Jehovah said furthermore unto him, Put now thy hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.

And he said, Put thy hand into thy bosom again. (And he put his hand into his bosom again; and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.)

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe even these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

Moses' Second Objection: Aaron Appointed Spokesman

And Moses said unto Jehovah, Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

And Jehovah said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not I, Jehovah?

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak.

And he said, Oh, Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

And thou shalt speak unto him, and put the words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God.

And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the signs.

The Return to Egypt

And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren that are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

And Jehovah said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead that sought thy life.

And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

And Jehovah said unto Moses, When thou goest back into Egypt, see that thou do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in thy hand: but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born:

and I have said unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me; and thou hast refused to let him go: behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.

The Circumcision Crisis

And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that Jehovah met him, and sought to kill him.

Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me.

So he let him alone. Then she said, A bridegroom of blood art thou, because of the circumcision.

The Leaders Meet and the People Believe

And Jehovah said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mountain of God, and kissed him.

And Moses told Aaron all the words of Jehovah wherewith he had sent him, and all the signs wherewith he had charged him.

And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

and Aaron spake all the words which Jehovah had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

And the people believed: and when they heard that Jehovah had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Study Notes for Exodus 4

Verse 1

Moses voices his fear that the enslaved Israelites, having endured decades of silence, will not believe that Yahweh has truly appeared to him. This objection prompts God to provide tangible proof.

Verse 3

The transformation of the rod into a serpent (Hebrew: *nāḥāš*) and back demonstrates God’s power over life and creation, establishing the first sign of Moses' divine authority.

Verse 5

The purpose of the signs is specifically tied to the covenant identity of God, assuring the people that the God of the Patriarchs is indeed the one commissioning Moses.

Verse 6

The second sign involves leprosy, a severe ritual impurity and physical affliction. This demonstrates God’s control over health, disease, and the ability to restore life and purity.

Verse 9

The third sign, turning water to blood, foreshadows the first plague in Egypt (Exodus 7:19-21) and demonstrates God's power over the Nile, the source of Egypt's life and a revered deity.

Verse 10

Moses raises his second, more personal objection, citing a genuine struggle with public speaking or a speech impediment, highlighting his profound sense of inadequacy for the mission.

Verse 11

God counters Moses’ lack of confidence by asserting divine sovereignty over all human abilities, reminding Moses that the Creator controls whether a person speaks, hears, or sees.

Verse 13

Moses makes a final, desperate refusal, asking God to send anyone else. This rejection of the divine call provokes God's anger (v. 14).

Verse 14

God, while angered by Moses’ lack of faith, accommodates his weakness by appointing Aaron. Aaron, a Levite, will serve as Moses' prophet and official spokesman.

Verse 16

This verse defines the relationship: Aaron will be Moses' 'mouth' (spokesman/prophet), and Moses will function 'instead of God' (transmitting the divine word directly) to Aaron.

Verse 17

The rod, now termed 'this rod,' becomes the designated instrument of divine power, symbolizing Moses' authority to perform the wonders.

Verse 18

Moses secures Jethro's blessing for his departure, maintaining the appearance of a simple family visit rather than revealing the full scope of his divine mission.

Verse 19

God assures Moses that the men who sought his life (likely agents of the previous Pharaoh, cf. Ex. 2:15) are dead, clearing the way for his safe return to Egypt.

Verse 20

Taking the 'rod of God' emphasizes that Moses is not merely a traveler but a divinely commissioned agent carrying the instrument of Yahweh’s power.

Verse 21

This verse introduces the central theological conflict: God will actively harden Pharaoh’s heart. This action is not arbitrary, but ensures that the resulting display of divine power will be magnified for all nations to witness.

Verse 22

The declaration that Israel is God's 'firstborn son' establishes a unique, privileged covenant relationship, justifying God's demand for their release and framing Pharaoh's refusal as an act of cosmic rebellion.

Verse 23

The threat against Pharaoh’s firstborn is announced here, setting up the tenth and final plague as a direct, reciprocal judgment for holding captive God’s 'firstborn.'

Verse 24

This mysterious passage shows that God initiates judgment against Moses for neglecting the covenant sign of circumcision for his son, stressing that obedience must precede the ministry.

Verse 25

Zipporah acts quickly, performing the required circumcision to avert divine wrath. Her dramatic action and words ("a bloody husband") likely reflect the intensity and gravity of the covenant demand.

Verse 27

Aaron, instructed by God, meets Moses at the 'mount of God' (Horeb/Sinai), confirming the unified divine origin of their mission before they enter Egypt.

Verse 30

Aaron, utilizing his eloquence, delivers the message, while Moses provides the necessary authentication by performing the commanded signs before the people.

Verse 31

The immediate belief and worship show that the signs, combined with the message that God had 'visited' their affliction, successfully convinced the elders and people of Israel.

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Exodus4

Moses' First Objection: The Signs of Authority

Moses' Second Objection: Aaron Appointed Spokesman

The Return to Egypt

The Circumcision Crisis

The Leaders Meet and the People Believe

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