exodus 4 and 5

Read Exodus 4 and 5 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Exo 3:1-4:17 {p} Call of Moses: words of the LORD + signs of the LORD
Exo 4:18-26 {p} Return to Egypt with message + authority (rod/ signs of God); obedience (circumcision)
Exo 4:27-6:1 {s} Pharaoh’s response to Moses and the children of Israel

The strong themes of Exodus encountered so far:

Exo 1:1-2:22 {px3} Israel’s increase + the enemy’s opposition + the deliverer born
Exo 2:23-4:17 {s+p} God calls Moses in response to Israel’s need for deliverance
Exo 4:18-26 {p} Return to Egypt with message, with authority (rod/ signs of God); and obedience (circumcision)

Exo 2:23-4:31 chiastic structure:

1a) Exo 2:23-25 {s} YHVH heard the groaning of the children of Israel;

1b) Exo 3:1-4:17 {p} YHVH met Moses on the mountain of God + word and signs of YHVH;

1c) Exo 4:18-21a, Return to Egypt + Moses’ wife and sons + message/ rod/ signs;

1d) Exo 4:21b, YHVH will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will not let Israel go;

central axis) Exo 4:22, “Thus says YHVH: Israel is My son, My firstborn;”

2d) Exo 4:23, If Pharaoh refuse to let Israel go;

2c) Exo 4:24-26 {p} Encampment toward Egypt + Moses’ wife and sons + circumcision;

2b) Exo 4:27-30, Aaron met Moses on the mountain of God + word and signs of YHVH;

2a) Exo 4:31, YHVH looked on the affliction of the children of Israel.

Look at the prevalence in these two chapters of the signs and wonders of the LORD!

Burning bush (that drew Moses’ attention) – Exo 3:3;
The sign that the LORD had sent Moses – Exo 3:12;
The LORD will strike Egypt with wonders – Exo 3:20;
Moses is given three signs to perform – Exo 4:1-9;
Moses will take the rod with which he will do the signs – Exo 4:17;
Moses took the rod of God in his hand – Exo 4:20;
See that Moses does all the LORD’s wonders before Pharaoh – Exo 4:21;
The signs which the LORD commanded Moses – Exo 4:28;
He did the signs in the sight of the people – Exo 4:30.

This is the first place in Scripture where God gives the power to do signs. God giving His people power to do signs is not only a New Testament occurrence (although in the New Testament, the Spirit is poured out on all flesh, Act 2:17, not leaders only)! The signs of the Spirit first operated in Moses! In fact, Scripture combines the message, word, or instruction of the LORD to Moses, with the signs of the LORD that Moses is to do, in a single strong paragraph, Exo 3:1-4:17, in order to highlight that God’s Word and His Spirit work together and are not at odds!

The purpose of the first sign, the burning bush, is to draw Moses’ attention. Once God had Moses’ attention, He could tell him His instruction and expect to be heeded. The purpose of the signs which God gave to Moses is revealed in the narrative:

And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of all the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. Exo 4:30-31

Belief in the truth of the Word of the LORD is the fruit of miraculous signs. And the fruit of belief, is worship. The signs of the Spirit always have as their purpose, opening the door for the Word of the LORD to be heard, heeded, believed, and obeyed!