The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #2304

Exodus
Chapter 4

Moses' first objection; unbelief of the people
Exodus 4:1  ¶And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
2  And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? [*] And he said, A rod.

[*] The sign of the rod = power [Ps.2:9; 110:2; Rev.2:27]
Psalms 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel
Psalms 110:2  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Revelation 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father
Moses' shepherd's crook, the tool of his calling. Cast down, it became a serpent; taken up in faith it became "the rod of God"

Exodus 4:3  And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
5  That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
6  And the LORD said furthermore unto him, [* ]Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

[*] The sign of leprosy. The bosom (heart) stands for what we are, the hand for what we do. What we are, that ultimately we do. [Lk.6:43-45]
Luke 6:43  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

7  And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
8  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

Moses' second objection; his lack of eloquence
Exodus 4:10  ¶And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
11  And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
12  Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
13  And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

God appoints Aaron spokesman
Exodus 4:14  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, [*] Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

[*] "the Levite"  Was not Moses, Aaron's brother so therefore, also a Levite?  Is it not recorded here to indicate that he whom He would send would be of the tribe of Judah?

Exodus 4:15  And thou shalt speak unto him,[*] and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

[*] This clearly defines inspiration, it is simply God putting Words in the mouths of prophets and being with them in all they say (v.15-16, cp.Num.22:35; 23:5,16; Dt.18:15; Jn.17:8)
Numbers 22:35  And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Numbers 23:5  And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak
Numbers 23:16  And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus
Deuteronomy 18:15  ¶The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
John 17:8  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me
He shall be thy spokesman(v.16) of prophet (7:1)
Exodus 7:1  ¶And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
This indicates that prophets were spokesman for God, and were qualified only by His Spitit, having received the gifts of prophecy (Acts 3:21; 1 Cor.12:1-11; 2 Tim.3:15-17; 4:1-4; 2 Pet.1:21).
Acts 3:21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
1 Corinthians 12:1  ¶Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
2 Timothy 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 4:1  ¶I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Peter 1:1  ¶Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5  ¶And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12  ¶Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15  Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16  ¶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19  ¶We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
They were men who spoke to men in God's place (v.16). Moses retained his position as mediator.
Exodus 4:16  And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
17  And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Moses returns to Egypt
Exodus 4:18  ¶And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
19  And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.
20  And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
21  And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: [*] but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

[*] Note: "I will harden his heart". The Lord is in complete control of this situation, as He always is!

Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Exodus 4:23  And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Circumcision separates Moses from his family
Exodus 4:24  ¶And it came to pass by the way in the inn, 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 his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.
26  So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.
 

[*] v.24 God seems to have come bodily to them seeking to kill one of the boys of Moses because he had neglected to circumcise him. By what means means the Lord sought to kill him is unknown, but it was a promise to Abraham that the male who was not circumcised would be cut off (Gen.17:14).
Genesis 17:1  ¶And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3  And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4  ¶As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7  ¶And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 9  And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
God was acting now to deliver Israel, so it was necessary to enforce the letter of the covenant. Zipporab, having understood why God sought to kill the boy, took a knife and circumcised him to save his life. She cast the foreskin down at the feet of Moses, and God left the boy live.(v.24-26)

Aaron meets Moses, Ex.4:14 fulfilled: deliverance announced to Israel
Exodus 4:27  And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
28  And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

First spiritual revival in Israel through miracles
Exodus 4:29  And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
30  And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
31  And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

History shows that the northern 10 tribes migrated north over the Caucasus Mountains (hence called Caucasians) and became known as the Cimmerians, the Celts, the Saxons ('Saac's sons), etc., and settled in western Europe, the British isles, and later many migrated to the Americas. (Note: If you would like to know about the location of the 10 so-called "lost tribes" of the house of Israel, then contact Artisan Publishers at www.artisanpublishers.com and purchase the little booklet The Abrahamic Covenant, by E. Raymond Capt.) or log unto pamphlets #1064 and #1020 on this web site.

By the way! Do you want some wisdom???? Rev. 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

How do I count the number of the beast?"

Read pamphlet #1761. It will explain!
Editor's question: When we are ask to count the number of the beast, aren't we are really being ask to count the number of Satan's descendants living among us?