Man looks at the physical and the physical actions of oneself or others and in his/her own mind determines the definition of what a great sin or small. For example, many of us consider "murder" to be a great sin. After all, it is to take a life. In fact, if someone we know is murdered or if we hear or witness a murder of innocent people or children, we view it as a horrific sin or crime. Many can look at prostitution and consider that a great sin. What about a drug addict? What about a gangster who sells drugs and kills people? What about a drug addict who would rather feed their addictions than feed her children? We look at such physical actions to determine the degree of sin. But what really counts is how does God determines what offends HIM more?
In Exodus chapter 2, Moses had killed an Egyptian. When man kills a man in this world, it is man's law that will come to seek justice. In the case with Moses, Pharaoh had sought to kill Moses. As a result, Moses fled and was in exile. But even though Moses had killed another man, God had allowed him to flee and take refuge in the land of Midian.
Exodus 2:11-15 One day, after Moses was grown, it happened that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of [Moses’] brethren.12 He looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.13 He went out the second day and saw two Hebrew men quarreling and fighting; and he said to the unjust aggressor, Why are you striking your comrade?14 And the man said, Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? Then Moses was afraid and thought, Surely this thing is known.15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and [b]took refuge in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well.
After forty years in exile tending sheep, God then calls Moses to deliver His people from Egypt. In Exodus chapter 4, as Moses was returning back to Egypt with his family, it was now God who had sought to kill Moses.
Exodus 4:19-26 The Lord said to Moses in Midian, Go back to Egypt; for all the men who were seeking your life [for killing the Egyptian] are dead.20 And Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on donkeys, and he returned to the land of Egypt; and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, When you return into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all those miracles and wonders which I have put in your hand; but I will make him stubborn and harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.22 And you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, Israel is My son, even My firstborn.23 And I say to you, Let My son go, that he may serve Me; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, your firstborn.24 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!26 When He let [Moses] alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision.
Before Moses was to return to Egypt, God had told Moses to circumcise both his boys. But because Moses' wife could not bear the pain of her babies from being circumcised, Moses had apparently listened to his wife over God's command and only had circumcised the first boy. On his way to Egypt, Moses fell ill as God had sought to kill him for disobeying. Since Moses had listened to his wife, now it was Zipporah who had to make a decision to save Moses' life. Moses had listened to his wife over God, she had to repent and obey in order for Moses to be healed. Moses was too ill to repent.
When Moses had killed a man, it was Pharaoh who had sought to kill Moses. When Moses had disobeyed God, it was God who had sought to kill Moses for disobeying HIM. Disobeying God is something HE considers very grave as it is rebellion against HIM.
King Saul had disobeyed God and as a result he was REJECTED by God. Many of God's people today nonchalantly disobey God thinking it will be overlooked by HIM because we have Grace. After all, how can not circumcising the second boy of Moses really offend God? This is our thinking. I am sure this is how both Moses and Zipporah had thought. But if Moses had killed another man, Zipporah would have been desperately telling Moses to repent fiercely. In the physical realm, killing another man appears to be a great sin and we would be fiercely repenting and worrying. But yet, in the spiritual realm, disobeying God is more grave and we must realize this fact. If any one of us have disobeyed God, then we must fiercely repent for having disobeyed God. Do not try to measure the degree of the act to determine whether you must obey HIM or not. Any act of disobedience is REBELLION. We must realize we serve a King of Kings. Many are called but few are chosen. Very few choose to OBEY HIM.
The Lord said during our prayers, "You must OBEY above all things. You must OBEY MY WORD."
Fire of God Ministries International Church
Fremont, CA
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Amen. Question though - Why does God sent Moses but then harden the heart of Pharoh?
ReplyDeleteFor God to reveal his power in Egypt.
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