Exodus 6:13-27 Family History of Moses and Aaron

At this point there is a parenthetical section [kind of a side note], to give us some information as to just who these men Moses and Aaron were:

"Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron

about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt,

and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

These were the heads of their families:

The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were
Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

These were the clans of Reuben.

The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar

and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

These were the clans of Simeon.

These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records:

Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Levi lived 137 years.

The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei.

The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

Kohath lived 133 years.

The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.

These were the clans of Levi according to their records.

Amram married his father's sister Jochebed,

who bore him Aaron and Moses.  Amram lived 137 years.

The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zicri.

The sons of  Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri.

Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon,
and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph.
These were the Korahite clans.

Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel,
and she bore him Phineas.

These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.

It was this same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said,
'Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.'
They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt
about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
It was the same Moses and Aaron."

Exodus 6:1-27 (NIV)
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This is a lot of material to cover in one post, but it is meant to be one complete section, so I don't want to break it up.  I'll try to make it clear.

First of all, it is firmly established that Moses and Aaron are indeed Israelites themselves.  Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, and Jacob had twelve sons and a daughter.  The full genealogy of these twelve sons of Jacob is not given here -- this genealogy simply goes far enough for us to be sure that Moses and Aaron are from that same family line.  Therefore, we are only given information regarding Jacob's sons Reuben, Simeon and Levi.  Moses and Aaron were from the line of Levi.  I think that we are given information about Jacob's first two sons, Reuben and Simeon, only to show that Levi occupied the position of the third son of Jacob [or 'Israel' as the LORD had renamed him].

If we were to show it more visually [which is what I like to do], the family tree would look something like this:

 [Each line of text is a generation.]

Abraham

Isaac

Jacob

Reuben, Simeon, Levi,....and the other nine sons and daughter Dinah

Next, the clans of three of Jacob's sons [Reuben, Simeon and Levi] are shown. 

Reuben

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi 

Simeon

Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul

Levi

Gershon, Kohath, Merari

Then, another level of Levi's sons is given.

Levi

Gershon                                              Kohath                                               Merari

Libni, Shimei                           Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel                Mahli, Mushi

Then, the genealogy zeros in on Moses' and Aaron's immediate ancestors.

Amram                   Izhar                                 Hebron               Uzziel

Aaron, Moses        Korah, Nepheg, Zicri                           Mishael, Elzaphan, Sithri

[I wondered why Kohath's other sons Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel were detailed.  I think it is because some of these men named will turn up later in the Biblical narrative and this will give us a fuller picture of who they were as well.  For example, if the Korah listed under Izhar is the same one who led a rebellion against Moses later, it is interesting that he is Moses' cousin, who probably thought that he was just a capable as Moses to lead the Israelites.]

Some further information is given on Aaron as well.

Aaron marries Elisheba (daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nashon)

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar

Next, further details on Izhar's son Korah:

Korah

Assir, Elkanah, Abiasaph

Then, back to Aaron's son Eleazar:

Eleazar marries Putiel's daughter.

She bears him Phineas.

[I should mention that although this seems to be a rather confusing way of giving information, many of the names of  the sons listed here will be involved in that same rebellion against Moses, and other conflicts.  Later it will become clearer why we are given details regarding some of the sons and not others.  The Bible, although always found to be accurate in what it does tell us, does not tell us every detail which we might like to know regarding these genealogies.  However, it does tell us everything which we need to know in order to understand the things which God did in history and chooses to reveal to us.  We don't get every detail, but we get enough detail to understand God's revelation of Himself to us.]

In verses 26 and 27 of Exodus 6, we have a summary of the section, which is an echo of the verse which introduced this section (v.13).  It is emphasized that the Aaron and Moses whose genealogy we have been examining are the same ones who God spoke to and told to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.  The fact that they spoke to Pharaoh about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt is also repeated.  As if to emphasize this point even further, the last words in this section restate that this was the same Moses and Aaron.

If we want to get scholarly, we can say that this section which is bracketed by verse 13 and verses 26-27 is a pericope [which is just a fancy way of saying that it is one section which has a certain point and can stand alone].  I don't think I need to tell you what the point of this one was, but if you are still unsure, just check out verses 26 and 27 again.

Now that we've gotten that settled, the narrative will resume.  By this time, you are either completely lost in the details [I hope not] or excited about what God will reveal next in the Exodus account and perhaps wondering how these various people listed have a place in the story.   

Exodus 6:9-12 Discouragement Happens to the Best of Us

"Moses reported this to the Israelites,

but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

Then the LORD said to Moses, 

'Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.'

But Moses said to the LORD,

'If the Israelites will not listen to me,

why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?' "

Exodus 6:9-12 (NIV)

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Moses reported  to the Israelites all that God had told him:

• God would be able to deliver them because of His own mighty hand.
• God had heard their cries for help and would keep the covenant which He had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
• The Israelites would be God's own people, and He would be their God.
• God would free them from slavery in Egypt and bring them into the land of Canaan, which He had promised to give to them.

However, both because of their discouragement about how previous meetings with Pharaoh had turned out, and because of the additional burdens which had been imposed upon them, the Israelites were in no mood to continue this discussion.  As Pharaoh had hoped, it seems that any possibility of a change in their situation was no longer up for debate.

Although Pharaoh was probably breathing a sigh of relief that the uprising which he had feared was no longer probable, God seemed to have had a different view of the situation.  He orders Moses to go tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country.  Apparently, in God's mind, their journey would still happen as He had planned.

Moses was a bit incredulous.  If the Israelites would not listen to him, why would the great Pharaoh, king of Egypt, pay him any attention?

I think we have to stop a moment to appreciate Moses' situation.  First of all, in those days, nobody ordered a king around, especially one as powerful as the Pharaoh of Egypt.  There were no 'rights' to be insisted upon, no personal freedoms to be demanded.  [I believe I have read that the Pharaoh's subjects had the 'right' to have grievances addressed, but, let's face it, if a Pharaoh didn't want something to change, it didn't happen.]  I think that even Pharaoh's closest advisors would be careful to word their advice in very deferential terms, considering the fact that he held their lives in his hands.  Yet God was telling Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave his country.[!]

Secondly, Moses' insecurity regarding his own speaking ability seems to have resurfaced.  I suppose that his failure to have Pharaoh approve the three day festival he had requested, and the resulting worsening of the Hebrews' circumstances had not done much for his confidence.  If his own people would not listen to him, why would Pharaoh?  If Moses did indeed have some type of speech impediment, I'm sure that these stressful conditions would not help matters at all.

Think about this:  God had chosen a man who couldn't speak, to lead a people who wouldn't listen, out of the land of a king who thought that he was god.  No wonder Moses was discouraged.

However, this was God who was speaking to Moses.  He was more powerful and authoritative than any earthly king.  Neither Pharaoh's power nor the Israelites' discouraging circumstances nor Moses' perceived failings would stand in the way of His plans.

Exodus 6:1-8 I am the LORD

"Then the LORD said to Moses,
'Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh:
Because of my mighty hand he will let them go;
because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.'

God also said to Moses,
'I am the LORD.
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,
but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.
I also established my covenant with them
to give them the land  of Canaan, where they lived as aliens.
Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites,
whom the Egyptians are enslaving,
and I have remembered my covenant.

Therefore, say to the Israelites:  I am the LORD,
and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
I will free you from being slaves to them,
and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm
and with mighty acts of judgment.
I will take you as my own people,
and I will be your God.
Then you will know that I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand
to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.
I will give it to you as a possession.
I am the LORD.'
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Some observations and/or items for further study:

1. First, God assures Moses that the Israelites will indeed be delivered from Pharaoh's hand.  However, it would be because of God's mighty hand that this would be accomplished.
2. God would reveal Himself to the Israelites in a deeper way than He had before.  This is signified by His use of the name 'The LORD'.  It is not that the other patriarchs had never heard this name before, but that the Israelites would know God in a much deeper way because of what He would do in delivering them from slavery in Egypt.  [Indeed, the exodus was a pivotal step in God's dealings with the Hebrews.  Many times in Scriptures, reference is made to the exodus, and how God was mighty in delivering His people.]  
3. God had remembered His covenant:

• He would give them the land of Canaan as he had promised.  He would bring them there personally.
• He had heard their groaning and would come to their aid.
• He would take them as His people, and He would be their God. 

These same covenant promises had been given to Abraham, and then reconfirmed to his son Isaac and grandson Jacob and to Jacob's twelve sons.  Now, as God's chosen leader, Moses is reminded of these promises which God has made.

Exodus 5:19-23 Why, God?

"The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble

when they were told,

'You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.'

When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said,

'May the LORD look upon you and judge you!

You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials

and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.'

Moses returned to the LORD and said,

'O LORD, why have you brought trouble upon this people?

Is this why you sent me?

Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name,

he has brought trouble upon this people,

and you have not rescued your people at all.' "

Exodus 5:19-23 (NIV)

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The Israelite foremen were understandably upset with the results from Moses' and Aaron's meeting with Pharaoh.  Instead of helping their fellow Israelites, the meeting seems to have made the situation even worse.  Pharaoh is angry, the overseers are probably annoyed that the foremen had gone over their heads and appealed directly to Pharaoh, and, worst of all, Pharaoh now has an excuse to kill the slaves, for their work will continue to yield even more unsatisfactory results.

Moses and Aaron had been waiting nearby to see what would be the result of the foremen's appeal to Pharaoh.  Now these foremen were asking God to pass judgment upon them, for Pharaoh's orders seem designed to hasten their annihilation.  Even though God had told them that Pharaoh would be uncooperative, this latest development seems to have been somewhat shocking to Moses and Aaron, who had only wanted to help the Hebrews.

Moses goes back to the LORD for answers.  His words are strong, but not disrespectful.  He just does not understand why God would allow the situation to get worse if He truly wanted to deliver His people as He had promised to do.  It is as though Moses is bringing the fact of the covenant which God had made with the Israelites to the forefront:  If they truly were His people, then why wasn't He helping them?

[This reminds me of how people react when bad things happen to good people, when innocents suffer, etc.  It is the age-old problem of  'How could a loving God allow such evil?'.]

I am glad that Moses was so straightforward and honest in his questions.  There is a kind of integrity in his speech which comes across and lets us know that he loves both God and the Israelites.  God certainly knew Moses' heart in these matters.  He does not seem offended at Moses' question.

God has not forgotten His covenant.  He does have a plan, which He will continue to reveal to Moses.

As for the problem of evil, there are some answers found in the fact that mankind's sin has had devastating effects upon individuals, society, and even nature.  God's character (all-knowing, all-powerful, loving, righteous) assures us that all wrongs will eventually be made right.  Sometimes this takes time, for all the purposes of God take time to develop.  That is, of course, the short answer.  Books could be written explaining the details.

At any rate, God has a reply for Moses.  We will read about it in the next section, Exodus chapter 6.

Exodus 5:10-18 No Straw and No Sympathy

"Then the slave drivers and the foremen went out

and said to the people, 'This is what Pharaoh says: 

"I will not give you any more straw.

Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it,

but your work will not be reduced at all." '

So the people scattered all over Egypt

to gather stubble to use for straw.

The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying,

"Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw."

The Israelite foremen appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers
were beaten and were asked,
"Why didn't you meet your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?"

Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh:

"Why have you treated your servants this way?

Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!'

Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."

Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are -- lazy!

That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'

Now get to work.

You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."

Exodus 5:10-18 (NIV)

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This passage needs no interpretation -- Pharaoh's message is chillingly clear:  The Israelite foremen will continue to be beaten (or worse) if they do not manage to complete their quota of work as before, even though the people have have not been given the materials they need to complete it.  Pharaoh intends to leave his workers no time to clamor for festivals, and no spirit with which to cause dissent.

Without being provided with straw to help solidify the bricks, the Hebrews will have to work hard to find any kind of reasonable substitute.  At some point, though, even this inferior 'stubble' (v.12) which they can find around them will run out.  It will become increasingly impossible to fulfill their quota of bricks, and the quality of their product will also become inferior and eventually, unacceptable.  Obviously, Pharaoh will impose further punishments, perhaps even death.

The future does not look bright for the Israelite foremen, or for the Hebrew people at this point.  What can they possibly do to remedy this situation?  It is painfully apparent that they will get no sympathy from Pharaoh or his slave drivers.

Exodus 5:6-9 Pharaoh's Reaction to Moses' Request

"That same day, Pharaoh gave this order

to the slave drivers and foremen in charge of the people:

'You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks;

let them go and gather their own straw.

But require them to make the same number of bricks as before;

don't reduce the quota.

They are lazy; that is why they are crying out,

"Let us go and sacrifice to our God."

Make the work harder for the men

so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.' "

Exodus 5:6-9 (NIV)

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There is an immediate effect from Moses and Aaron's message, but it is not a positive one.  Pharaoh quickly issues an order that same day, which will make the men's work much harder to accomplish.  In this way he hopes to refocus their attention upon the work at hand instead of festivals to their God.

The fact that Pharaoh moves so quickly to squelch any support for the proposed festival shows how concerned he was about a popular uprising.  Also, word must have leaked out to the Hebrews about the message which God sent through Moses and Aaron, for some of the people seem to have begun calling out to Pharaoh to support the three day break. (Exodus 5:8)  That probably only served to make him more determined to not let the multitudes get a taste of freedom.

On a side note, I remember reading that the Pharaoh considered it his main duty to maintain order in the universe, or at least his part of it.  You can read more about that here, but evidently the Pharaoh would be quite averse to allowing any kind of uproar or dissent to develop.  Not to mention that the idea of Pharaoh facilitating the worship of any other God except the 'gods' of Egypt would be unacceptable.

This setback did not take God by surprise, though.  Even before Moses left on his journey back to Egypt, God had known that Pharaoh would not willingly allow the Israelites to leave, and that He would have to perform wonders before Pharaoh would let them go.  (Exodus 3:19-20)

Long before Pharaoh had even heard of Moses and Aaron, God had made plans to facilitate His people's release from Pharaoh's stubbornness and from their slavery in Egypt.

Exodus 5:1-5 Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?

"Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said,

'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:

"Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert." '

Pharaoh said, 'Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go?

I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.'

Then they said, 'The God of the Hebrews has met with us.

Now let us take a three day journey into the desert

to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God,

or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.'

But the king of Egypt said,

'Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor?

Get back to your work!'

Then Pharaoh said, 'Look, the people of the land are now numerous,

and you are keeping them from working.'

Exodus 5:1-5 (NIV)

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After meeting with the Israelites, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh to make their request.  Pharaoh is not familiar with the LORD, the God of Israel -- and he is certainly not willing to submit to Him.  Even when Moses and Aaron explain that they have met with this God of the Hebrews, and that the Israelites wish to offer sacrifices to Him lest He strike them with plagues or the sword, Pharaoh is unimpressed.  As we will see later (Exodus 5:9), he regards their words as lies designed to interrupt his workforce.

Even in Pharaoh's first words to Moses and Aaron, we get a fairly distinct picture of his heart attitude.  His pride and confidence in his own self is evident, and his focus is on the gain that may be gotten from his enslaved workers.

Pharaoh also mentions that these workers are numerous.  No doubt somewhere in this equation is the fact that he figures it might be dangerous to allow this multitude of Hebrews too much free time, lest they turn against him.

Exodus 4:27-31 Reunion

"The LORD said to Aaron,

'Go into the desert to meet Moses.'

So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.

Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say,

and also about all the miraculous signs he had commanded him to perform.

Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites,

and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses.

He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed.

And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them

and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped."

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Several things came to mind when I read this passage:

1. Aaron had to have a good measure of faith himself if he was willing to go out into the desert to meet a brother he hadn't seen in forty years.  It would have been easy for Aaron to just ignore the LORD's prompting him to go meet Moses, and just figure that he had not heard from God, but was simply missing his brother.
2. Also, if Aaron met his brother at the mountain of God, he must have been sent on his journey even before Moses had finished trying to tell God that he was inadequate for the job of deliverer.  So before Moses even came up with his 'excuses' for why he could not go to Egypt, God had already sent the answer to his concerns (Aaron) on his way to meet Moses.  Since the mountain of God is Horeb (Exodus 3:1), the place where Moses first saw God in the burning bush, then almost as soon as Moses agreed to go to Egypt, Aaron would have arrived to accompany him.
3. Moses and Aaron first met with the elders of Israel.  This was a wise choice, because the last time Moses left Egypt, he had been a fugitive running for his life.  It would be best for the elders to hear his message first, both out of respect for their position among the Israelites, and to show the people that his message was legitimate.
4. Moses was careful to perform before the people the signs which the LORD had given him, as he had been told to do.
5. The people believed God had sent Moses and Aaron, and they were also grateful that the LORD had actually heard their prayers and that He was concerned about them.  This led to worship.  Not only was this a reunion between Moses and Aaron, but also between God and the Israelites, as they realized that the LORD had not forgotten them but had seen everything which had happened to them.

Exodus 4:24-26 Not So Freaky After All

'Not So Freaky After All' may seem like a strange title to give to a post about a section of the Scriptures.  No disrespect intended, but as we read on, you will see why I found this passage all very strange at first:

"At a lodging place o the way, the LORD met Moses

and was about to kill him.

But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons's foreskin
and touched Moses' feet with it.

'Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,' she said.

So the LORD let him alone.

(A that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)

Exodus 4:24-26 (NIV)

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Now do you see what I mean?  After all, Moses has just left his father-in-law's household with his wife and two sons, and is returning to Egypt as the LORD had directed.Why, then, would the LORD meet him along the way and try to kill him?!

The answer is actually very simple:  Moses was not honoring the terms of the covenant which God had made with Abraham and his descendants:

"Then God said to Abraham,

'As for you, you must keep my covenant,
you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you,

the covenant you are to keep:

Every male among you shall be circumcised.

You are to undergo circumcision,
and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

For the generations to come

every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised,

including those born in your household
or bought with money from a foreigner --

those who are not your offspring.

Whether born in your house or bought with your money,

they must be circumcised.

My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.

Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh,
will be cut off from his people;

he has broken my covenant."

Genesis 17:9-14 (NIV)

 

I should note that right before this incident in Genesis, God had made a covenant with Abraham and had walked between the severed carcasses of  animals which He had directed Abraham to prepare.  You can read more about this ceremony here, but the main idea was that God was saying "May I be split in two like these carcasses if I do not carry out all that I have promised you."  In other words, it was a self-maledictory oath:  "May such-and such be done to me if I do not keep my oath."

God had not made Abraham do the same.  However, God gave Abraham the sign of circumcision as a way for Abraham to express the same type of idea:  "May God cut off me and my descendants if I am not faithful in keeping the LORD alone as my God."  Abraham no doubt would have been careful to convey this information to his descendants.

Moses knew about this covenant sign.  He probably had also spoken of the significance of these matters to Zipporah his wife as well.  How do I know this?  Well, when Moses is in the midst of nearly being killed by the LORD, Zipporah seems to know exactly what to do to turn away the LORD's wrath from her husband.

Why had Moses neglected to circumcise his son?  I do not know for sure.  Perhaps he became careless or indifferent over the years.  Although he had his parents' godly influence at least for a while, the court life of Egypt could have had a detrimental effect, for the Egyptians had many 'gods'.  Moses also lived forty years among the Midianites.  Not that Moses worshipped the 'gods' of the Egyptians or the Midianites, but perhaps a careless attitude had crept in over the years.

There does seem to be a hint of what had influenced his procrastination about circumcising his son.  It is clear from this passage that Moses' wife Zipporah found the idea of circumcision repulsive.  After she had reluctantly circumcised their son, she had touched Moses' feet with the severed foreskin.  [Actually, she probably touched Moses elsewhere, for 'feet' was sometimes used as a euphemism for one's private parts.]  She also called her husband a 'bridegroom of blood'.  Clearly she had some issues with the practice of circumcision.  Not that it was so very unusual -- many nations practiced circumcision.  However, none of the other nations practiced it for the same reasons which the nation of Israel did.  In any case, Zipporah seemed to find the practice barbaric.  Perhaps Moses had avoided circumcising his son in order to keep peace in his family.

The LORD had chosen Moses to lead His people out of Egypt.  Moses' allegiance had to be to God first, not Zipporah or anyone else.  It is reassuring that God did not show favoritism.  Leaders sometimes do not follow the rules which they expect others to obey.  This would not be permitted with Moses. God held himself to the same strict standard:  If Pharaoh was to be called into account for his rebellious ways, then so was Moses.

Therefore, God's actions toward Moses had not been freaky at all.  He had done exactly what He had said He would do to those who refused to follow His covenant instructions.  By ignoring the covenant sign of circumcision (for whatever reason), Moses had put both himself and his two sons at risk of being cut off from the people of Israel.

Exodus 4:21-23 My Firstborn Son

"The LORD said to Moses,

'When you return to Egypt,

see that you perform before Pharaoh

all the wonders I have given you the power to do.

But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

Then say to Pharaoh,

"This is what the LORD says:

Israel is my firstborn son, and 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."

Exodus 4:21-23 (NIV)

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At first glance, it may seem that something unfair is going to happen to the Pharaoh.  God says that He will harden Pharaoh's heart so that he will not let the people of Israel go.  Then God would kill Pharaoh's firstborn son.  Isn't this unjust?  After all, if God is going to harden Pharaoh's heart, how can he help but resist God's request?

This hardening of Pharaoh's heart will happen, but that is only one of the facts.  As we begin to get deeper into this story, we will see that this account in Exodus 4 is only a summary of the main events which will occur.  Moses is being given a general idea of what will happen when he goes to Egypt.  However, he is not given all the details at this point -- just the highlights of what will happen there.

The fact is, as we will see in upcoming posts, Pharaoh will be given many chances to repent before his heart is hardened.  Not only that, but in the passage above, God seems quite concerned that Moses perform before Pharaoh all of the miracles which he has been given the power to do.  These wonders are yet another chance to repent and turn to God.  God's attention to these matters reveals that He is merciful and just, and wants to give Pharaoh every chance possible to repent.

However, God is also holy.  He cannot just overlook sin and still maintain righteousness and justice.  Also, Pharaoh is in a position of great responsibility and leadership.  Therefore, God will not let his rebellious ways go unchallenged.

The crux of the matter, though, is even more ominous.  At the heart of this exchange is the fact that God is in a covenant relationship with the people of Israel.  This special relationship is reflected in the way God declares in verse 22 that "Israel is my firstborn son."  Just as a firstborn son is beloved and precious to a father, the nation of Israel is beloved and precious to God.  God wants Pharaoh to let His 'son' go.  These terms make it crystal clear to Pharaoh that God is serious.  Just as Pharaoh has a firstborn son,  and, we infer, would stop at nothing in order to protect him from harm, God has a similar relationship with the nation of Israel, and will stop at nothing to maintain His covenant with them by delivering them from slavery in Egypt.  If Pharaoh refuses to relent, he is told here quite explicitly what he can expect in return:  the death of his own firstborn son.

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[Fast-forward to today.  I think about passages such as the above every time I hear the anti-Israel tirades launched by many world leaders today.  I wonder if they know about the covenant relationship that God has with Israel.  Or that God doesn't change, or go back on His promises.]

Exodus 4:18-20 Back to Egypt

"Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law
and said to him,

'Let me go back to my own people in Egypt

to see if any of them are still alive.'

Jethro said, 'Go, and I wish you well.'

Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian,

'Go back to Egypt,
for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.'

So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey
and started back to Egypt.

And he took the staff of God in his hand."

Exodus 4:18-20 (NIV)

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Some observations:

1. Jethro was surprisingly willing to let Moses (not to mention his daughter Zipporah and his grandsons) leave for Egypt.  I don't think that Moses had revealed all of his mission to Jethro at this point, but Jethro (as a Midianite priest and the patriarch of the family) probably could have made Moses' departure much more troublesome if he had wanted to do so.
2. God assures Moses that the men who wanted to kill him are dead.  This means that the man who was Pharaoh at the time of Moses' departure from Egypt must be among those who have died, for that Pharaoh wanted to kill Moses because he had sided with the Hebrews by killing an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15).  This fact will be one more clue when we try to determine who the Pharaohs of the oppression and of the exodus were at that time.  [Yes, I will eventually get to that subject.  I'm still sorting out the information.]  See, when we try to determine who that Pharaoh was who reigned when Moses was born, it would have to be someone who ruled for a long period of time (the forty years before Moses left Egypt plus the forty years while Moses was in the desert of Midian).  That will help to narrow down some of the possible candidates.  The guy would have had a long life as well, for forty years plus forty years plus the likelihood that he would probably have been at least ten years old when he began to rule gives that Pharaoh a lifespan of at least ninety years.
3. By now, Moses has two sons, Gershom --who we met in Exodus 2:22 and Eliezer (whose name is revealed in Exodus 18:4).  Both accompany Moses and Zipporah on their trip to Egypt.
4.  Did you notice that Moses' staff is now called 'the staff of God'?(4:20)  It is not that the staff has acquired some miraculous power of its own.  Rather, it is in regard to Moses' relationship to the Almighty that it can be used by Moses in performing miracles.  By itself it is only a staff.