Shemot, שְׁמוֹת - Names
Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1
Reading #6 - Exodus 4:18–31
My Thoughts:
The most interesting part of this reading is when in verse 24, it is written Hashem wants to kill Moses. This is hard to understand when in the verse above Hashem is saying He instructs Moses about the Pharaoh and the killing of his firstborn. Some of the sages teach -- what Hashem is really saying in verse 24 -- is that He is going to kill Moses' firstborn son! They speculate that it is because Moses had delayed circumcising his son. This actually makes a lot of sense. First Hashem is talking about destroying the Pharaoh's son and then Moses's son. Is He showing the importance of obedience in both situations? Most certainly He is. It seems to be all about following and obeying the one true Elohim. As soon as his wife circumcises his child, he becomes safe again. This is truly an interesting story about obedience and loyalty.
Challenge:
Do you have a situation about disobedience to Hashem in your life? If you are thinking about something right away, chances are you are being convicted. Take care of your sin today. Make it right and make restitution. Before you have to suffer consequences.
Reading #6 - Exodus 4:18–31
4:18 Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.”
Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
19 Hashem said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.”
20 Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took Elohim’s rod in his hand. 21 Hashem said to Moses, “When you go back into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go. 22 You shall tell Pharaoh, ‘Hashem says, Israel is my son, my firstborn, 23 and I have said to you, “Let my son go, that he may serve me;” and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”
24 On the way at a lodging place, Hashem met Moses and wanted to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.”
26 So He let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
27 Hashem said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.”
He went, and met him on Elohim’s mountain, and kissed him. 28 Moses told Aaron all Hashem’s words with which He had sent him, and all the signs with which He had instructed him. 29 Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words which Hashem had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 The people believed, and when they heard that Hashem had visited the children of Israel, and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
