(Taken from my book The Resurrected Bride, p.259-261)
In Exodus 4:24-26 there is an unusual event recorded for us that I have often wondered about. Moses has been called by the Lord to go and deliver His people. Along the way he and his family have an encounter with God that seems a little strange, even harsh at first glance; “Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, ‘You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.’ So He let him alone. At that time she said, ‘You are a bridegroom of blood’ because of the circumcision.” (Exodus 4:24-26/NASU)
While on their journey to Egypt where Moses had been called to deliver God’s people, he and his family have this encounter with God through which it is revealed that his son has not yet been circumcised. We have to look at the preceding verses to help us understand what is happening, and who God is talking about putting to death. In His instructions to Moses of what he should say to Pharaoh, the Lord had just told him; “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I said to you, “Let My son go that he may serve Me”; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.’” (Exodus 4:21-23/NASU)
Our English interpretations lead us into thinking that it’s Moses whom the Lord sought to kill. As I looked over the original Hebrew language, though, I believe that it was actually Moses’ son who was the object of God’s declaration. God had just told him that once in Egypt, he was to declare to Pharaoh that God was going to kill his firstborn son because of his refusal to let His people go so that they could serve Him in the wilderness. I see in this the Lord letting Moses know that he should not walk in presumption, assuming that his son would be protected during this. As I just said, circumcision was the sign given to Abraham of being in covenant with Him so as to be protected by the blood (Genesis 17:9-11).
Later, after the Lord’s heavy hand of judgment upon the Egyptians, it would be the blood on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite homes during God’s final plague that would protect them. He had said; “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague [“pandemic”] will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13/NASU)
For Moses to assume that his son would not incur the wrath of God would be disastrous. The Lord had clearly warned Abraham that to not be circumcised was to break His covenant, causing His people to be cut off from Him (Genesis 17:14).
The Bible doesn’t say, but you have to wonder if Moses, who had been raised in Egypt by Pharaoh’s daughter, even knew about God’s sign of the covenant through circumcision. It was God’s love to confront him with this matter. How many of our church fathers today have also not taught this divine principle to God’s children under their care? I would dare say many, if not most within the church. This is why He now confronts us as well, before His judgment takes place. After their reunion, Moses and Aaron then assembled all the elders of Israel to share with them what the Lord had spoken to Moses. Aaron told them and then performed the signs in front of the people. The Bible then declares; “So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.” (Exodus 4:31/NASU)
It would be the miraculous signs of the Lord executed by His servants that caused the children of Israel to believe the words they had just heard. His servants in this hour will do the same demonstrations of the Spirit and of power for His people, and against His enemies (1 Cor. 2:1-5).
After Jesus’ resurrection He appeared to His disciples and commanded them to go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. He told them that certain signs would accompany those who believe. Mark writes that they then “went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.” (Mark 16:20/NASU)
I believe this is why we, God’s people, are going to experience a final visitation from Him, through His servants that will perform attesting miracles, before His wrath is poured out on earth to set His people free. This time, though, it will be from mankind’s bondage to the sinful nature. To presumptuously assume that His judgment will not affect us, and in particular the leadership within the church, at a time when many of God’s children have in rebellion to the Holy Spirit’s working in their life not allowed Him to circumcise their hearts (Romans 2:28-29), is to be foolishly unprotected without the blood of Jesus during His frightening judgments on earth.
As many in the church who refuse to repent are about to learn, surely, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) In mercy He will visit us in order to turn our hearts back to Him. As with Zipporah, I believe it will be the Lord’s Bride who will be used by the Holy Spirit to circumcise the hearts of God’s children with a sharp, two edged word (Hebrews 4:12). Seeing this movement of God taking place, Satan will counter by attempting to deceive Christians through false signs and wonders. Earlier in Mark Jesus had warned His followers, saying; “...for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” (Mark 13:22-23/NASU)
Knowing that signs and wonders will occur from both the true and the false prophets, we need to be cautious and discerning as to who they are from. We don’t need to be anxious but to remain near to the Lord who will reveal to us that which is from Him and that which is not.
