Exodus 4:24-26 (NKJV) And it came to pass on
the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill
him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of
her son and cast it at Moses’[a] feet, and said, “Surely you are a
husband of blood to me!” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a
husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.
When I had first read Exodus in different versions and came across
chapter 4 verse 24, I did not understand why the Lord met Moses and
sought to kill him. Perhaps some were given the revelation to see
between the lines. But as I read the Amplified version, it was crystal
clear.
Exodus 4:24-26 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! 26When He let [Moses] alone [to recover],
Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision.
Moses had a high calling. He was chosen to lead God's people out of
Egypt. But on his way to Egypt with his family, Moses fate had almost
turned out much different. As we read in verse 25, we can clearly see
the reason why Moses might have been judged and killed by the Lord. It
is apparent God must have told Moses to circumcise his two boys. Verse
25 says Moses had failed to circumcise one of his sons because his wife
opposed to it. It appears after circumcising the first boy, the mother
could not bear the pain of watching her son being circumcised and had
opposed Moses from circumcising the second son.
Many of God's servants today can be on the road of their calling
just as Moses was called. But even if God's servants are on their road
of calling or not, the question that may determine life or death is,
"Are they FULLY OBEYING?" These scriptures show us that our
calling will not protect us if we disobey. Especially, if we disobey
God over our spouses, children, job, career, business, friends, money,
comfort, education, our congregation/church, etc.
What is circumcision? A male baby born in Jewish tradition was to be
circumcised on the EIGHTH Day. It represented a covenant between the
baby and God. A covenant between God and man required blood and pain.
The Lord, Jesus, paid the price of blood with His death. Now, the Lord
requires our hearts to be circumcised to enter into His
Glory. Circumcision can represent pain but it was a test of obedience
for the covenant. Paul said in Acts 14:22, we must go through much
tribulation and suffering to enter the Kingdom of God. It is not an
easy way. It is the way of the narrow road.
Moses' wife, Zipporah, could not stand the pain of her son's
circumcision and fought to prevent the second one. How many of us have
went the easy way in following God? How many of us still say we believe
and we follow yet we have not FULLY OBEYED because it was just too
painful to stay in His Fire to be purged? How many of us have
compromised and given God terms and conditions for us to do His command
or calling? God's people do not get struck from the randomness of
life.
In 1 Kings 13, a man of God from Judah goes to the altar of Bethel
to prophecy as commanded by the Lord. He was told by the Lord that he
shall eat no bread or drink water or return by the way he came.
However, on his way out from Bethel, he was intercepted by a local
prophet who had lied to him in regards to staying and eating.
1 Kings 13:15-18 Then he said to him, Come home
with me and eat bread.16He said, I may not return with you or go in
with you, neither will I eat bread or drink water with you in this
place.17For I was told by the word of the Lord, You shall not eat bread
or drink water there or return by the way that you came.18He answered,
I am a prophet also, as you are. And an angel spoke to me by the word
of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with you to your house, that he may
eat bread and drink water. But he lied to him.
Ironically, God had used the lying prophet to speak to His disobedient prophet that he was a dead man.
1 Kings 13:21-22 And he cried to the man of God who
came from Judah, Thus says the Lord: Because you have disobeyed the
word of the Lord and have not kept the command which the Lord your God
commanded you, 22But have come back and have eaten bread and drunk
water in the place of which the Lord said to you, Eat no bread and
drink no water--your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.
On the way out, the prophet from Judah is struck and killed by a
lion. The lion did not eat him but stood by his dead body. If people in
those days heard of this story of the prophet being killed by a lion,
many would rationalize the incident as one of the dangers of walking in
the wilderness. There are no lions in our streets today. What do you
think God is using today that may represent the lion to bring judgment
on the disobedient servants?
What about in the NT? Will God still judge and strike down His
servant or people as in the days of old for disobedience or rebellion?
Has God changed?
In Acts chapter 5, we have Ananias and Sappira who had lied to the
Holy Spirit and was struck. They had not only lied, it was because they
had NOT kept their promise to God. The Lord will always come to
collect. Jonah was in a dark belly and the only way to get out was to
sacrifice with thanksgiving and pay his vow.
Acts 5:3-5 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan
filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the
Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw
secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the
sale of the land?4As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your
own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal
and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and
purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart
to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and
showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.5Upon hearing these
words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took
possession of all who heard of it.
Jonah 2:9-10 But as for me, I will sacrifice to You
with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed.
Salvation and deliverance belong to the Lord!10And the Lord spoke to
the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
In Acts 12, Herald is killed for not giving God Glory. Herod basked
in his pride as he took in the praises of men. Herald like many
Christians today steal His Glory. Herald was not only eaten worms but
it represented his eternal torment with worms in hell.
Acts 12:21-23 On an appointed day Herod arrayed
himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and
addressed an oration to them.22And the assembled people shouted, It is
the voice of a god, and not of a man!23And at once an angel of the Lord
smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the
preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme
Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.
There are many examples in the bible of God not only judging His
people but literally striking and slewing them and individuals. In
order for us to receive wisdom, we must return to the biblical Fear of
God. The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. This is the door
to Wisdom for He is wisdom. Too many of His people do not Fear HIM for
who He is. He is God. You must know the Full Counsel of God. We serve a
KING OF KINGS!! Ask HIM to help you understand the magnitude of who
you serve!
The bible has been given to us to know His character and the
mistakes of His people from the past. We are such
a privileged generation but we are also the laziest which does not take
advantage of the abundance of information and freedom to seek HIM. We
will answer to this!
Exodus 15:26 Saying, If you will diligently hearken
to the voice of the Lord your God and will do what is right in His
sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His
statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I brought upon
the Egyptians, for I am the Lord Who heals you.
Do not make the same mistake as the saints of the OT who did not
even know they were sinning against God. They did not even realize they
were committing spiritual adultery and harlotry in most cases. Why
must history continue to repeat. The Lord's heart grieves so much as
men continue to repeat the mistakes of their forefathers. Ask the Lord
to put His salve on the eyes and ears of your heart so you may perceive
and understand. Stop saying you do not have the time!! Is the cares of
the world more important than HIM? He is Returning! He is Returning
with a Rod!!
Jeremiah 2:22-27 For though you wash yourself with
lye and use much soap, yet your iniquity and guilt are still [upon you;
you are] spotted, dirty, and stained before Me, says the Lord.23How
can you say, I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals [other
gods]? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done. You are
a restive young female camel [in the uncontrollable violence of her
brute passion eagerly] running hither and thither,24Or [you have the
untamed and reckless nature of] a wild donkey used to the desert, in
her heat sniffing the wind [for the scent of a male]. In her mating
season who can restrain her? No males seeking her need weary
themselves; in her month they will find her [seeking them].25[Cease from your mad running after idols, from which you get nothing but bitter injury.]
Keep your feet from being unshod and your throat from thirst. But you
said, It is hopeless! For I have loved strangers and foreigners, and
after them I will go. 26As the thief is brought to shame when he is
caught, so shall the house of Israel be brought to shame--they, their
kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets--27[Inasmuch as]
they say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me
birth. For they have turned their backs to Me and not their
faces; but in the time of their trouble, they say, Arise [O Lord] and
save us!
Jeremiah 2:35 Yet you keep saying, I am innocent; surely His
anger has turned away from Me. Behold, I will bring you to judgment
and will plead against you because you say, I have not sinned.
Please do NOT take the Gospel of Jesus Christ for granted. Churches
do not get shut down out of coincidence, randomness of life, or by the
devil. We must obey the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ
otherwise compromise will lead to rejection. Use the Grace He is
pouring down to return to your First Love for He is merciful.
May He has mercy on the Church of Laodicea.
1 Peter 4:17 (AMP) For the time [has arrived] for
judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us,
what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey
the good news (the Gospel) of God?
Fire of God!
Steve Yong Kim
December 20, 2011
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