You Lose or You Win, It Is Within You

BIBLE STUDY #827 – CHURCH IN THE HOUSES SEPTEMBER 2 - 8, 2014

Topic: “You Lose or You Win, It Is Within You” Exodus 4:24-26 There is a phrase from President Bush: “Terrorism grew at the aid of weakness.” This means that we cannot be negligent; if we are, things will not go well but wrong. From the verses we read from the Book of Exodus it is shown how great Moses’ call was; this man had to deliver God’s nation from Egypt’s slavery and get them out. But, Moses was full of power. He had “God’s staff” in his hands! That staff was called “God’s staff” for it was destined for the Lord’s service and for any miracle that was necessary for Moses to perform; not by any virtue of the staff as such, well there was no power in the staff, but rather by the divine power that would be manifested when used by Moses. Moses is Moses, just a man; God is God, powerful, perfect and Holy. We are not going to measure Moses now; let’s take notice in what Zipporah does, Moses’ wife, in the situation that is narrated here. Moses was on his way to do what God had entrusted him to do and see a powerful God manifested upon Egypt, which in those days was on empire of greatness. Moses left to fulfill his call in obedience; he was willing. God told him to return to Egypt to liberate the Hebrews, well all those who wanted to harm him before were no longer there; and that gave them security. That male, Moses, had powers that came from God Himself, he had the strength, and he had God’s clear voice in his favor completely. But, in spite of all of this advantage Moses had, he also had a “sin” within him and this was negligence for not having circumcised his son. God, since Abraham, had commanded Israel through a pact the circumcision of all their males. Some commentators of the Bible affirm that Zipporah was to blame for this negligent situation. It is said that she was very indulgent, very tolerant with the children’s likeness and for that reason they had not circumcised them. The Bible says that Jehovah had encountered Moses and wanted to kill him. Exodus 4:24 “At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.” The reason for God wanting to kill him was that Moses had neglected or postponed the circumcision of one of his children. To ignore that sign and zeal of the pact was an act of omission with criminal cause for any Hebrew and especially in one who was destined to be the guide and liberator of the Hebrews. Moses in his march towards Egypt with all the divine signs: the road, God’s revelation and God’s voice, was not capable of doing what seemed to be the least. James 4:17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” Moses knew what he had to do, but he didn’t do it and God saw it as a sin. How great God was with him, and just as great was God’s hand against him, against such omission (cease to do). God would execute proper justice. Moses had to face the great danger of perishing. Death would come. To whom has been given much, much will be demanded. But, we see that Zipporah, concerned about her husband’s security, ACTED IN A COURAGOUS WAY. If Zipporah was or was not annoyed for having to circumcise her son was not what made her react now; she would simply be a brave woman who would deliver her husband from death. Zipporah immediately performed the operation of the circumcision to the child. It was Moses’ obligation to do it, but Zipporah was brave and she did it. Otherwise, what would occur would be the death of the great Moses, the death of that man who was loved by Zipporah. She got in the middle and took a flint knife before the imminent death of Moses and performed that operation (surgery) without any preparation or care, but indeed with a brave action; it was life or death. They were in the middle of the desert and with God before them to execute justice. Or you do it or you do it! Exodus 4:25 “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 be,” she said.” Zipporah brings before Moses the “bloody evidence” of her son’s circumcision and exclaimed in the painful excitement of her feelings that out of love for her husband she had risked her son’s life practicing the circumcision in that way. This ritual of circumcision is a divine order for Israel and the peculiar distinction as a nation. When we stop doing what needs to be done we should know that the divine judgments will come. THOSE WHO SEE THE DANGER MOVE FORWARD, GET IN THE WAY, TAKE IN THEIR HANDS “THE OBEDIENCE” AND LIBERATE THE INDITED. Either we sit to criticize and gossip or we do what is right and take in our hands “the sharp stone” to perform the sanctification and what God has ordered! Blood and danger, that was in Zipporah’s hands. But, in that courageous act Moses’ life was at stake, and later in Moses the life of millions. EITHER YOU ARE BRAVE AND ACHIEVE, OR YOU ARE COWARD AND RUN! Life or death will be the result of your actions. You join evilness or you destroy evilness! You destroy it when you get in the way to battle Jehovah’s ordinances! You win or you lose! Choose as Zipporah did and you will gain for yourself and for others with you. Amen.