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Although the Lord is “slow to anger” (34:6), he does not withhold his anger or punishment from his disobedient children forever (v.14; 34:7). Seeing God’s anger, Moses finally accepted God’s holy mission when He provided a coworker: Aaron, his own older brother.
Before launching to carry out God’s mission, Moses went and received his father-in-law Jethro’s blessing. Jethro had been his supporter during his wilderness life. He had provided him a home and given him his daughter as his wife. There is no one-man show in God’s work. God provides co-workers as we carry out his mission. We must learn to work together with those whom God provides as our co-workers. Humility is the key to co-working.
There was another thing that Moses had to do before going back to the land of his mission. He had his son circumcised. It represented the circumcision of his heart and removal of old customs and habits he might have unwittingly picked up during his life in Midian (vv. 24-26; see Rom. 2:29b).
Jan 9, 2026
CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART
Passage: Exodus 4:18-31
Key verse: 25
NIV
chapter 4
18. Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive." Jethro said, "Go, and I wish you well."
19. Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead."
20. So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
21. The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
22. Then say to Pharaoh, ’This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son,
23. and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’"
24. At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.
25. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said.
26. So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)
27. The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.
28. Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.
29. Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites,
30. and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people,
31. and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me your holy mission. My life has no meaning if I don’t carry out your mission for me. Thank you also for granting me coworkers. Please give me a humble heart to co-work with them (Phil. 2:3). Amen.
One Word: Circumcise my heart to be humble and co-work with God’s servants