Moses Responded to God’s Calling

Exodus 4:18-31; 11/16/2025; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

Facing God’s calling, Moses went through a time of struggle but finally decided to return to Egypt.  Forty years of ties, forty years of memories, and forty years of preparation —now, because of God’s call, Moses is setting out again, embarking on a new journey.  Let us look at the first point:

Go in peace

Before setting out, one must always say farewell to family.  For Moses, it was especially important to take leave of his father-in-law and give a responsible explanation.  First, he sought his father-in-law’s blessing.  If Moses had left without a word—secretly returning to Egypt alone in response to God’s call—what kind of testimony and reputation would he have left behind among his father-in-law’s household and the people of Midian?  Moses’ personal reputation would be a small matter, but the name of the LORD would suffer loss.  Moses’ request was not unreasonable; it was entirely proper and appropriate.  Hence, the Scripture says: “Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, ‘Please let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.’”  The phrase “my own people in Egypt” from Moses’ mouth carries a double meaning—referring both to Aaron and to all the Israelites.  And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

Second, receiving God’s blessing.  A person may receive blessings from other people, but only God can bestow true blessing.  Human blessing is mutual—it flows between people—but divine blessing comes only from God to humankind, as an act of grace.  Clearly, Moses also received something similar to what the incarnate Lord would later experience: “favor with God and with men.”  The LORD spoke to Moses in Midian, saying,  “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.”  Who, then, has the power to determine or arrange the life and death of a person?  Truly, “times change, and people rise and fall.”  Life is short and fleeting, yet in his limited years, Moses received the boundless grace of God.  At eighty years old, he still had the chance to receive a divine mission—and to live for God!

Finally, Moses set out with his wife and sons, carrying the staff in his hand.  Moses was a good husband, a good father—a man of integrity who stood tall before God and people.  Wherever he went, he took his wife and children with him.  In this life, everyone seeks wealth, yet few truly understand what kind of wealth they are seeking.  There is a saying: “If you seek prosperity, seek a virtuous wife.” That is the truth behind it.  I once had a friend who wanted to divorce his wife and marry another.  I told him, “You must not abandon the wife of your youth.”  He asked me why. I said, “Believe it or not, if you cast away your wife, you are casting away your life’s true wealth.”  As it turned out, he later lived in poverty and misery.  When I saw him again, his life was completely broken—  The Bible says, “So Moses took his wife and his two sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt.  And he took the staff of God in his hand.”  Let us now look at the second point:

Israel is my son

Truly, God was gracious to Moses—He spoke to him with countless reminders and tender instructions.  You think about it, there is even a sense of deep affection, almost like that between a loving parent and child, isn’t there?  First of all, whose “firstborn” are we talking about?  When  The Scripture says, “Israel is my firstborn son.”  Yet the fullness of God’s revelation ultimately rests upon Christ.  As Romans 8:29 declares: “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”  Here, the principle of interpretation involves progressive revelation, intensified meaning, and cross-referencing within Scripture.  From the Book of Exodus to the Book of Romans,  the concept of the firstborn points unmistakably to Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.  Yet, from the perspective of God’s divine timeline,   Israel was indeed a direct revelation for that specific moment in history.  In the era of Moses, when God spoke to Pharaoh, He was declaring the unique status and authority of His chosen people.

Second, carrying the staff to perform miracles.  Moses first set out with his wife and children—and in his hand, he carried the staff of God.  This staff was not only a source of comfort and discipline for God’s people, but also an instrument through which God’s mighty works would be displayed before Pharaoh.  The magicians of Egypt could also perform wonders, but their power had nothing to do with God.  Moses, however, did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.  He performed all the signs before Pharaoh.  Yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the Israelites go.  We must remember—God is not only loving, but also righteous and just,  and He can be angry.  He is the God who saves, yet also the God who judges.  Do not doubt it, and do not be surprised by it.  Sometimes, we treat God as if He were a Santa Claus— a kindly figure without temper or principle—and in doing so, we slowly lose our fear of the Lord.

Finally, “Let My son go.”  Let us not be indifferent to the words that God speaks,  nor treat them as if they mean nothing.  God instructed Moses to say to Pharaoh: “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.”  This was a warning given to Pharaoh in advance!  Had Pharaoh heard these words with reverence and obeyed, he would have been spared from judgment.  But Pharaoh was stubborn— he would not yield until death forced him to!  And who can treat the Almighty God lightly?  When God saw that Moses himself had not yet circumcised his son, He was ready to put Moses to death!  The Scripture says:  “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.”  Let’s look at the third point:

Then they bowed down and worshiped

Before God, no one can remain unholy.If a person is not holy before the Lord, God will not overlook it!  Even the LORD’s dear friend, Moses, was not exempt—how much more, then, for you and me?  At this point, Moses’ understanding of God had grown far deeper than before.  First, he obeyed God’s command.  Scripture says: “The LORD said to Aaron, ‘Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.’  So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.” (Exodus 4:27)  Moses’ obedience did not come easily.  He had to humble himself and submit to God’s narrative authority.  Let us ask ourselves honestly— is it easy for us to obey when we are instructed?  When others speak to us, we may nod and agree outwardly, but inwardly—don’t we sometimes question, doubt, or resist?  We ask, “Why should I listen to your version of the story?   Why must things go your way and not mine?”  But Moses no longer argued.  When God spoke, he obeyed.  He did exactly as the LORD commanded, and there—on Mount Sinai—he met Aaron.  It was a historic encounter, marking the beginning of Israel’s great Exodus from Egypt.

Second, obeying God’s Word.  The essence of obedience to God is obedience to His Word— Scripture says: “Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the signs He had commanded him to perform.” (Exodus 4:28) Once the team was formed, the work of ministry began.  They gathered all the elders of Israel, and Aaron, according to the will of God, received the message from Moses and delivered it to the people of Israel.  As the saying goes, “When brothers are united in heart, their strength is unbreakable.”  The same is true in the church: only when we are of one heart and one mind can we spread the gospel effectively.  Otherwise, if everyone insists on their own way and their own truth, then “evangelism” becomes nothing more than an empty word.

Finally, live out faith and worship.  By this point, the relationship among Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel had grown stronger and more harmonious.  How do we know this?  Scripture tells us: “And the people believed.  And when they heard that the LORD had visited the Israelites and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.” (Exodus 4:31)  Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  But when a person truly believes, God’s grace is poured out upon them!  When human faith meets God’s compassion, a spirit of worship arises from the depths of the soul— a heart of reverence and devotion is born.  This is why God does not delight in our constant complaining, or He has already “seen our suffering.”  What He calls us to do is simple:  “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Do you believe this?

Conclusion

Praise the Lord! Moses has finally responded to God’s call!  Moses’ initial rebellion stirred the anger of God.  Yet, though he had rebelled, he did not stubbornly cling to his own foolishness.  Moses’ spiritual muscles were strong and flexible—he was capable of repentance, willing to admit his mistakes, and ultimately turned back to God.  He embarked on a path of wholehearted dedication and service to the Lord.

Let us pray together……

18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”

20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,

23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.

25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!”

26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.

28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do.

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel.

30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to 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 people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.